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When working with new entrepreneurs, I often hear resistance to “going big” or making any major moves due to various fears that come up preventing them from feeling it’s the “right time”. When I read this article from Fabienne Fredrickson, she addresses this subject perfectly and I wanted to share in hopes it inspires you to just go for it! Here’s the full article…
Sue

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Stop Planning, Forget The “How”, Just Go For It!

Recently, we’ve been talking about aiming for MUCH bigger in our business, in our life, and in our purpose. We’ve stretched, looked into the fears of dreaming TOO big (is there such a thing?!) and looked at all the other emotions that come up once we’ve actually MADE the decision to play a bigger game. These are related to issues of safety, not rocking the boat, and self-doubt as to whether we really CAN play a bigger game in life and business.

But then, if this weren’t enough, there’s yet another thing that is likely to stop a lot of people right in their tracks. And that’s trying to figure out the “how”.

“How will I ever get from here to THERE?”
“But I don’t HAVE the resources (the funds, time, help) to make that big dream happen.”
“I’m not qualified right now to take on this big dream. I just don’t have what it takes yet.”
“Once I know HOW I’m supposed to do this, I’ll do it. Until then, I’ll just wait to be ready.”

Problem is, this is EXACTLY the point at which most people give up, probably even YOU. Right there. You see, most people wait for the HOW before they make a commitment to accomplish their big goal. Being the good planner that you probably are, there’s a part of you that feels this is too risky of a project or a goal to take on without having a plan, a solid plan, without knowing exactly how it’s going to unfold.

You may have a dream of being on Oprah, for example, to share the message only YOU can share, and to give exposure to your book or business. You love the idea of it, you imagine yourself on her yellow leather sofa, talking to her and her live studio audience. You may even be able to feel the warmth of the studio lamps and the nervous feeling you would have in the pit of your stomach. Perhaps what you’ll be wearing and what she’ll say to you. Your imagination is strong about what it would actually BE like once you’re there. And it feels great.

But then it all stops. Your imagination shuts down once you try to think about HOW you’ll ever get to the Oprah show, or whatever else your big dreams are. Here are things I’ve heard:

“I don’t have enough media training. They’ll never pick me.”"Everyone and their MOTHER wants to be on Oprah. There’s too much competition.”"Explain to me how it would ever happen and THEN I’ll think about going for it.”"Is there a guarantee this will even work? Probably not worth trying if I don’t have a plan”

Now, if you’ve seen my Mind Movie on my Facebook page, you know that I have BIG dreams. Writing best-selling books, doing workshops to thousands of people, affecting millions, and having a global effect on helping women and children around the world, and yes, one day, even taking my message to Oprah’s stage and sharing it with 10 million people.

I’m hearing it now… “Stop dreaming and GET REAL!”

And admittedly, some these things ARE “lofty”. In fact, I would categorize as downright “scary big”. Especially since I don’t have a clue yet as to how I will write ONE best-selling book, let alone many, how to get thousands of people to come hear me speak, how I’ll help on a global level (where, whom, what will I be helping them with???). And I certainly don’t have a clue about how to get on Oprah’s couch.

But I’ve decided to go for it anyway, because here’s “what I know for sure”. If you’ve got the commitment to do something, the intention is strong and you’re willing to do anything it takes to get there, in a good way/not bad, then things WILL unfold before you, like a red carpet being unrolled in Hollywood. You just need to take the first step, accomplish the task that’s right in front of you, and then the next task will show up for you to work on. Once you’ve done that one, just the right opportunity will land on your lap, followed by the right resource to take full advantage of that opportunity or to accomplish the task at hand.

But because we’re bred to be planners (or in my case, sometimes a bit of a control freak – have you ever seen me in the kitchen right before a dinner party??), we want to have the WHOLE thing planned out first, in every descriptive detail. It’s got to be all laid out and orchestrated ahead of time, in perfect order. Otherwise, we don’t make the commitment.

Thing is, that’s not how the Universe or life works. Your next step or the next opportunity will NOT show up until you’ve made the commitment. But once you DO, it shows up, and the more you do this, the faster things start showing up for you: the right operations manager, the perfect branding development coach, the spiritual guide with just the right message (even the bottle cap with just the confirmation you’ve been asking for) or simply, just the right book to get you to that next level.

That’s what is happening to me right NOW. It’s fascinating to be in the eye of the storm, calm (most of the time) and witnessing everything around me show up as it’s supposed to, having everything around me rearrange itself to make that big dream come true. In fact, it’s pretty humbling. It’s almost as though my intention and commitment to getting this big dream accomplished has taken a life of its own, in a really good way. And now, it’s just about taking the next step that presents itself, without thinking of the next HOW. In fact, it’s a very reassuring process, once you begin to see the pattern.

Your Assignment:

Notice your mindset as it relates to your big dreams and goals for your business or your life. Is there a way that you might be stopping yourself or putting a hold on your big dreams because you haven’t yet figured out HOW it’s going to happen? Is the planner in you squashing the dreamer in you?

Instead, I’d recommend you gather your strength, deny your “smallness” and grab hold of the truth of yourself: that you CAN accomplish that big dream, that it’s not a silly notion. Just the mere fact that you’ve thought of it means it can be done. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have gotten the idea. Forgot the how! Just go for it. Each “how” and the resource needed at that time will show up exactly when you need it.

And I’m here for you to make it happen, with all the support you need.

If you’re not attracting enough ideal prospects in the first place, I’d recommend you create compelling marketing and systems starting today. The tool that will take you from 0 to 60 clients the quickest is The Client Attraction Home Study System™. It’s everything you’ll ever need to know to fill your practice quickly; no matter how long you’ve been in business. All the tools, scripts, templates, and examples are handed to you on a silver platter (including how to close the sale 97% of the time). So, you do step one of the system, and when you’re done with that, you move on to step two, and so on. So easy. That’s why my customers have gotten such great results from it. You can get yours at www.TheClientAttractionSystem.com.

© 2010 Client Attraction LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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 in.come, visit www.ClientAttraction.com.

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Yes, you read that right! This invitation is just for women… (men, you can join us as well if you wish though!)

I have worked with many women over the years and can see how tough it’s been for them. You see, women have a lot of responsibility on their shoulders. They take on more, more and more still until they’re buried in frustration. Instead of saying ‘no’, their self-esteem and self worth plummets as they lose their own personal identity. So they quietly juggle their problems in isolation. Sound familiar?

But that’s all about to change with the The Summer Extravaganza For Women!

This is a very special project for me because the team here at eVision Media helped design and orchestrate this special on-line event with Dr’s Ellie and Charlie Drake of BraveHeart Women. I would really love it if you participated because I truly believe in the message Ellie has for all us women.

Like Ellie, I also truly believe that women can really change their own lives and even contribute globally when they come together.

This is why Ellie is offering this Free Summer Extravaganza where she will interview some of the most amazing and successful women of today.

Check out what I mean …

She has asked 14 amazing leaders and celebrities to be a part of this call including Leeza Gibbons, Mariel Hemmingway, Marla Maples and Lisa Nichols of ‘The Secret’ fame and many more. If people like this believe in Ellie and her cause for women, don’t you think there’s something to it? Yup, there definitely IS!

Here’s some of what you’ll discover when you attend the Online Summer Extravaganza:

==> How ONE SIMPLE SHIFT IN YOUR AWARENESS produces
astronomically more results in less time, with less
effort (you’ll be astonished at how productive you are
with this devastatingly easy change);

==> How the thoughts of successful WOMEN LEADERS ARE
DIFFERENT from the thoughts of average women (and how
those differences play out in all personal and
professional achievements);

==> How to banish useless energy like GUILT, SHAME,
and REGRET from your brain so you can stop beating
yourself up (women in particular play out negative
emotions over and over in their heads, making them feel horrible);

==> How to buck the PROCRASTINATION PATTERN any of us
can slip into (you can’t step up to being your
strongest self if you can’t get stuff done);

==> How to INSTANTLY shift your attitude to transform
your personal ability to lead and inspire (moods and
emotions don’t have to control your destiny);

==> How to easily break down and dissect the steps of
TRUE PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL, and GLOBAL FULFILLMENT
(it’s shockingly simple when it’s laid out for you);

==> How to ‘DETOX’ areas of your life today so you can
realize your dreams and get out of your own way (break
the cycle of repeating habits that don’t serve you anymore);

==> How to quickly discover your ‘LIFE PURPOSE’ and
put it into action (the BraveHeart Community is
tailored for meaningful connections and insights);

==> How to easily uncover and OVERCOME BLIND SPOTS
that hold you back from being your most magnificent
self (all too often it is US holding ourselves back);

And, of course… much, much, more. Get details here

All you need is an Internet connection and you’re in! The good news is you’ll learn real life strategies for *having it all* as a woman.

I want to make sure you read the BEST PART. It’s completely F*R*E*E. I know it sounds crazy but Ellie wants to reach as many women as possible so this whole Extravaganza costs absolutely

NADA! No strings attached.

Read more about the Summer Extravaganza here

This is a powerful group of women that have graciously given their time to provide you with solid information on how to have it all. It doesn’t
have to be so HARD!

I wouldn’t recommend this opportunity unless I truly believed in how much it could help you and other women. I hope you’ll check it out now. You’ve got nothing to lose!

Sincerely,
Sue

P.S. Remember, the cost for registering for the Summer Extravaganza is 100% F*R*E*E of charge! http://bit.ly/BHWfreeteleseries

P.P.S. I have ‘insider knowledge’ that Ellie will be bringing many more incredible women to the Summer Extravaganza. She is extremely well-connected and respected.

Check it out now for your chance to be a part of something monumental. Don’t delay – it all startsTODAY, Tuesday July 20th with the first call!

http://bit.ly/BHWfreeteleseries

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Let me start off by asking you a question…. How long has it been since your website’s home page has been updated with fresh new text and images? How about your blog? Has it been weeks… months even … since your last entry? What about the last time you sent out a newsletter?

If you had a strong urge to click the delete button after reading the above due to the sudden guilt pangs that just hit you, hold off on the temptation and be assured you are not alone! There are many business entrepreneurs that have neglected their website for many different reasons and now they are left feeling the whole “website thing” has been a bust. But there’s hope yet! Don’t abandon ship until you read this article…

Before getting started, it’s important to remember that your website is NOT a brochure! Its purpose was never to just build it and forget about it and then expect it to provide any kind of return on your initial investment.

So before you abandon your website all together and end up losing business to your competition, let’s talk about the reasons why it is vitally important to keep your website updated with fresh material and some things you can do now to get it back on track:

1. Your website is your most primary marketing piece for your business. Period. This is due to it being accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It never takes a holiday and is never not seen by anyone who visits it. Ask yourself what impression are others getting if they visited your site right now?  You want your site to give an accurate impression to not only your prospective client, but also your current clients so they can trust and believe that your business is in good shape too. No one ones to do business with a failing company.
2. Google and the other search engines will only love your site if it’s got something new to show its searchers.  If it detects that nothing has changed since the last time it indexed your site, then it will downgrade you in the search results. This is a critical point – you don’t want to get poor search result rankings!
3. Search engines are only going to display your site that matches a user’s search string if you have the right keywords placed within the text of your home page. Changing these keywords to match what your ideal client is looking for is very valuable so they will find your site easier when searching for products or services that match their needs.
4. Prospective clients can tell if a site has been stranded and will immediately get the impression you are either out of business or are not attentive enough to bother updating it. Either way, they have formed a negative impression on you and the credibility of your business.
5. If you have a newsletter signup box on your site but never or rarely send out a newsletter, this also gives the impression you are not on top of things and really don’t care about building your business. This topic is a whole ‘nother article to write on the importance of newsletters though….
6. Your website no longer accurately depicts your business direction anymore. Every business goes through the evolutionary process and it’s critical your website stays current with your product or service offerings. If you find yourself telling people, “oh sorry, my site doesn’t actually say anything about that particular service…” what kind of message is that person is getting about how well you run a business?
7. Your website looks like it was created in the 90′s. Yes, even sites I designed several years ago are looking old and outdated Avoid your site looking old by giving it a fresh redesign; otherwise, it looks like you don’t care enough about your business or about technological advances to keep it up to date. Keeping your website looking modern will improve your credibility and will give the impression you are attentive to the success of your business.
8. Your website looks “broken” in more recent versions of browsers. Have you ever looked at your site from a friend’s computer and wondered, “Why is it looking so funny?” This is a result of your site’s build being too old to be compatible with the newer browsers like IE 8 or Firefox 3.5. Back when your site was first built, it probably looked great across the more popular browsers but as browsers evolve, so must your website programming to ensure it continues to look good no matter what browser is used.
9. Along the same lines as the look of your site being old, so can the technology and coding used behind the scenes to build it. Old technology can create many problems including security threats and costly programming to work around the old scripts and code if new features need to be added. Often it is more cost effective to re-develop your site than to continually patch the security holes and do programming work-arounds that can be precariously unstable as soon as the next version of web browser comes along.

If you’re wondering if any of the above is applicable to you, then ask yourself if your site is performing the way it was intended. Are you getting sufficient leads? Are people finding your site and signing up for your newsletter to get them into your marketing funnel? Is your conversion rate where you want it to be?

If not, it’s a sure sign to take a close look at your “busting” website and have a talk with your web developer on ways to get it up-to-date so that it can provide you with the results you desire.

Your site can be a constantly evolving, powerful business tool if you treat it as such. It’s important to view it as your important, dynamic marketing collateral in your business and marketing plan. It can be as exciting, innovative and interactive as you want it to be, all you have to do is ask; the technology is available to create an amazing marketing piece for you like never before!

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About the Author: Susan is president/founder of eVision Media, a web development and eMarketing firm specializing in building effective brands for entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations for over 10 years. With a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, she is able to provide an authentic and personalized service for those wanting a trustworthy member of their team for their brand & marketing design, website development and SEO/eMarketing needs. Contact Susan today for a free 30 minute consultation on helping you build your website presence to be the effective marketing tool is can be. susan@evisionmedia.ca or visit www.evisionmedia.ca.

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Here’s a free teleseminar I wanted to share with you due to it being such a timely topic.  Do you try your hardest to please everyone and feel like you’re trying to win a losing battle? Are you aware that there does exist a perfect client for you and if you focused on that perfect niche, you wouldn’t be feeling like you’re being pulled in so many directions and only having mediocre results to show for your efforts?

This teleseminar talks about choosing your perfect niche that will get you out of that rut. It’s presented by a very respected coach, Kendal SummerHawk. She’s going to be sharing some of her secrets on Tuesday, April 7th at 5pm PST.  Here’s my personal link to register.

It’s on a topic that often keeps entrepreneurs from accelerating the growth of their businesses, which is why Kendall is the perfect person to be teaching this.

It’s called: “Niche Breakthrough Secrets” and I want to share this opportunity with you so you can take advantage of Kendall sharing her secrets.  (If you can’t be on the call, live, I recommend registering so you get the call recording.)

Kendall is famous for helping entrepreneurs create successful businesses using very simple strategies. Here’s a little secret about her work with clients:  One of the first things she looks at when she needs to fix their business (often helping them double and triple their 1ncomes) is how to mine the hidden gold in their niche.

Once she fixes this problem the results that magically happen for her clients are astounding!

The thing that’s really neat is that her secrets and strategies apply to both the brand new beginner and to the seasoned entrepreneur.

I highly encourage you to soak up all you can from this generous woman, in this complimentary one-time-only call! Here’s the link to secure your spot:  http://ow.ly/1udNv

This is what you’ll take away from this 75-minute complimentary call:

* the 5 HOTTEST niches that people are hungry for in this economy

* which niches are NOT easy to sell right now (no need to waste your time)

* how trying to please everyone will likely leave you broke, frustrated and potentially out of business (they’ll give you permission to focus on only the people you’re best meant to help)

* the one simple warning sign that signals if the niche you THOUGHT you had is really a dead-end (ignoring this could prove FATAL to your business)

* 3 easy steps to choosing a niche that is authentic AND lucrative (this is so simple you’ll wish you had learned this months or even years ago)

* how to quickly and respectfully shift from your old niche into a new one, without upsetting clients or colleagues

* exactly when is the time you need to niche (or re-niche) to move your business forward

* exciting details on the debut of Kendall’s BRAND NEW “Niche Breakthrough Secrets” telecourse, which will lay out for you, step-by- step, how to transform your competitive, draining businesses into a lucrative, enjoyable business… that easily generates double to triple the income.

(This applies to you, whether you’re brand new in business or you’re already seeing clients.)

Again, learn more and register for this complimentary call happening Tuesday, April 6 by clicking this link.

Sue

PS Remember to sign up even if you’re busy at that time – there will be a recording for you to listen to when you have time to sit, relax and really pay attention to what Kendall is teaching.

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Before approaching web developers for estimates on building your new business’s site, there are a few things you should think through first so you are fully prepared for the questions you will be asked. Here’s a list of ten things to be clear on before making that important next step:

1. Be clear on your business plan. This may sound obvious, but it has happened where I’ve been asked to build a website when the potential client only had an idea of what they wanted and no business foundation planned out at all. Are you sure you have a viable business idea that will provide you with a reasonable ROI or is this more of a hobby that you just want to dabble in? It is important to be clear on your intensions of what you want to accomplish first.
2. Be clear on your business name.  Make sure you have a registered business name before creating any of your marketing materials. It could be a costly mistake to have to go back and change everything if you find out your business name has been rejected.
3. Be clear on the product you sell or service you provide. Ensure you are clear on the product or service you offer so your developer knows what site features and design will work best to enhance them. Ask yourself if they are digital products or systems or a service for hire? How many products and how are they sold?
4. Be clear on your brand. This does not mean you have to have your logo already designed (some web development companies can also design your logo and other stationery/marketing materials for you as well), but it does mean you need to be clear on the message you want to give others about you and your business. This is actually not an easy or quick process but makes a significant difference if you are clear on this before moving on to anything else. Often the designer/marketer that you hire to create the visual brand for you can help with this process or I recommend checking out BrandU where they help you through your brand definition process step-by-step. Once done, you will be very clear on not only the essence of our brand, but also the “look” of your brand so you can simply hand over your results to your designer to create it for you.
5. Be clear on what you want your website to accomplish. A site that does not have a clear call to action is not going to be effective in fulfilling its purpose. When visitors come to your site, what do you want them to do once there? What is your primary call to action?
6. Be clear on how you are going to get site visitors into your database. The odds are slim that someone is going to purchase from you on their first visit to your site, so you need to plan out a way to capture their name and email address so you can keep in touch with them on a regular basis and develop a relationship with them.
7. Be clear on what features you want on your site. Will it be a static “brochureware” site with standard 4-5 pages or do you want something more dynamic with features such as a blog, calendar, search function, photo gallery, shopping cart system, newsletter system, membership signup etc.?
8. Be clear on your budget. Your developer needs to know a price range that you’re looking at so they can recommend a site build that will fit within your means. Keep in mind that your website is your primary marketing piece due to it being accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You don’t want to skimp with such an important and prominent showcase of your business! Don’t be fooled by the cheaper template options or “do it yourself” applications out there where, unless you have studied the intricate nuances of how the Internet works, search engine optimization and effective layout design, you run the  risk of scaring off your perfect customers instead of attracting them!
9. Be clear on website maintenance. Once your site is built, who is going to maintain it? The reason why this is important to determine before your site is built is due to the different ways it can be built. If you want to be able to update the site yourself, then you need your site built in a CMS (Content Management System) platform. This will put your site design into a template where you log in to make updates. Now before you get excited about the thought of saving all that money on doing this yourself, consider these points:
   1. Do you know enough about content layout and copywriting to make an effective marketing piece that looks professional to your perfect client?
   2. Do you know how to optimize images so they don’t slow down your site’s performance?
   3. Do you have enough time to do updates to your site?
   4. Are you aware you can’t write off your time that you spend on doing things yourself where you can if you have a professional take care of the updates for you?

      As you can tell, I am biased on this point… the reason is from working with over a  hundred clients over the years, these points always come up and they soon find out that even though it seemed they could “easily” update their site themselves, it rarely turned out that way. I heard from many that were extremely frustrated because they were working in an environment and medium totally foreign to them. Meanwhile they were wasting valuable time trying to learn to be a web developer instead of spending it on getting clients! Mind you, some people are more computer literate and can pick up on the more technical aspects required and they manage fine; however, it is still important to learn good copywriting skills and understand what makes an effective website before going the DIY route.

10. Be sure you do your research on who to approach. You want to find someone with experience and skill who will partner with you to help you build your business. You want to avoid programmers who only do exactly what you tell them as opposed to others who can offer ideas, suggestions and be a part of your  team to be there as a valuable resource when needed . Always ask to talk to their clients to see what their experience was working with the developer. Be aware of those that claim to be developers when in reality, all they learned was how to use a “do it yourself” software like Microsoft Front Page. The quality of your site – both in design and in how it is coded – is very important on many levels so ensure the person you hire understands how to design and build a quality product for you.

Susan Friesen
susan@evisionmedia.ca

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About the Author: Susan is president/founder of eVision Media, a web development and eMarketing firm specializing in building effective brands for entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations for over 10 years. With a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, she and her skilled team are able to provide an “all-in-one” personalized service for those wanting a member of their team for their brand & marketing design, website development and SEO/eMarketing needs. Contact Susan today for a free 30 minute consultation on helping you build your website presence to be the most effective marketing tool is can be.

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As 2009 winds down and we get busy with family and friends and the holiday traditions, it is also time to be reflective of how the year was for us and what we can look forward to in 2010.  This article from Christine Kloser really resonated with me about my own thirst for knowledge this past year and how I’ve seem many of our clients do the same.  Despite being bombarded with knowledge resources every day,  I believe that ultimately we have to look into ourselves and gain the confidence needed to grow and succeed. As long as we are conducting our business from a place of authenticity and of being of service to others, we don’t need to continue to look outside for any more insight than what we already possess “inside”.  Read this article from Christine to help put things into perspective…

Sue

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The ABC’s of Aligning with Your Business
By Christine Kloser

When you stepped on this path of entrepreneurship, if you’re like me, you became a sponge for knowledge.  If there was a new strategy you heard about, you found a resource to become skilled in learning that strategy.  If there was an event you knew you needed to be at, you figured out how to get there.  You were an “eager beaver” to learn, learn, learn and implement what you learned in your business.

But chances are, nobody ever suggested you stop with all the information gathering and ask yourself the deeper questions of, “Is this right for me?  Is this aligned with who I am, what my business is and what’s important to me?”   Many entrepreneurs I’ve spoken with are just now stepping back to ask themselves what they’ve been doing for the past several months (or years)… and if it’s really working for them.

What several of these entrepreneurs are discovering is that they’ve been going after what they “thought” they “should” be doing based on watching and modeling someone else.  It’s an honest thing to do.  You’re taught to model others.  But, you’ve got to be mindful of knowing where the line is between modeling in a way that serves you and modeling in a way that pulls you further away from who you are.

On that note, I want to share with you the ABC’s of aligning with your business so no matter what stage you’re in; no matter how much knowledge you have; no matter your level of success (or frustration) these three tips will help you make sure you are on track to be in total alignment with your business as you head into 2010.

Assess
In order to get from “Point A” to “Point B” in terms of aligning with your business, you’ve first got to assess where you really are.  Many entrepreneurs just keep going, keep plowing through their to-do list without taking time to step back and truly assess where they’re at and what direction they’re headed.

In this phase, you’ll allow yourself to see what’s working in your business and what isn’t working in your business, and more importantly what is and isn’t working for YOU!  It may be that your greatest source of income is also coming from the service that causes you the most amount of stress.  This is not in alignment.  Your income ought to come from your greatest joy.  So, these are the things to be looking for.  Where does your business FEEL right and where doesn’t it?

Be Brave
The assessment phase may uncover some things that perhaps you’d prefer not to see.  I know when I went through the assessment phase in my business, I saw I was doing things that I really shouldn’t have been doing.  These were some of the things others had suggested I do, so they didn’t purely come from the intent in my heart, but by what someone else thought.

So, this next phase invites you to be brave in facing what you see.  Yes, it might feel temporarily easier to pretend that what you see isn’t really there.  It’s natural to want to avoid that kind of pain.  However, if it’s there, it will always be there and it can’t really be avoided, it can only be postponed.  So, allow yourself to face whatever you see straight-on and you will be one step closer to totally aligning your Self with your business.

Co-Create
Finally, the third phase is to embrace the concept of co-creation.  Co-creation happens when you are fully awake, aware and conscious of the reality that everything created through you is created in partnership with Spirit.  In order to truly be aligned with your Self and your business, it’s essential to not let your human will or your ego feel like it’s the creative force behind what you do.

Alignment happens when your ego is set aside, when your intent is pure, when comparison and competition (or what you think you “should” do) aren’t part of your process.  This can be the greatest growth oppor^tunity of all… to allow yourself to “let go” enough to make room for grace.  So, don’t feel like you have to do everything in your business (or your life) alone, be open to seeing that when you’re in alignment you’re opening to a world of infinite possibility.

© 2009 Christine Kloser

About the author: Christine Kloser, author of The Freedom Formula, helps entrepreneurs put soul in their business and money in the bank.  If you want to thrive in your purpose-driven, profitable business (while enjoying a soul-satisfying life), send for my special report, How to Avoid the 3 Massive Mistakes Made by Most Conscious Entrepreneurs and my audio, 7 Strategies Entrepreneurial Authors Need to Know… Before Writing a Word, both of which you get (at no charge) when you request my Conscious Business Success Kit at www.LoveYourLife.com.

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Are you aware of your thoughts? I mean really aware at how you talk to yourself every minute of every day? Are you aware that these thoughts stem from old habits and and beliefs and determine how your life unfolds?

Ok, before I lose you here… bear with me! I’m referring to our natural consciousness and the beliefs that we’ve created through our experiences and how we associate everything we encounter with one of those beliefs – many times in the negative sense – which can translate to harmful thinking that produces undesirable circumstances.

Below is a great article by David Neagle about adjusting how we react to circumstances and creating a natural state of joy just by being aware of our thoughts ad beliefs.

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Create a Natural State of Joy
by David Neagle

Through our senses and from the people around us, we absorb ideas, beliefs, perceptions and evaluations of the way the world works. Unfortunately, many of these ideas are fear-based; they stem from a limited understanding of the world, and we don’t even realize they’re there. Once “learned,” they pass to our subconscious, where they still direct our actions and results. So, we have bad results and we just can’t figure out why.

The good news is that subconscious beliefs don’t like the light. Simple awareness gives us the choice to reject them.

In Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill writes, “Positive and negative emotions cannot occupy the mind at the same time. One or the other must dominate.” He outlines a process of affirmation and visualization to create the habit of positive emotion. Eventually, he writes, positive emotions will dominate your subconscious mind so completely that the negatives cannot enter.

A Natural State of Joy

Based on my experience with thousands of people all over the world, I suggest that rather than working with your thoughts, you can create a natural state in which negativity has no place.

If you get in touch with the desire in your heart, and you seek the expression of that desire and do all that’s required of you, you’ll enter a natural state in which you won’t want to be negative. You won’t talk about what’s wrong with everything or hang out with people who bring you down.

You already know that this works. When you’re doing something you love, you feel very little, if any, negativity. When you’re in harmony with something, it’s natural to express the happiness, joy, eroticism, compassion, loving, caring or jovialness of the situation. You’re automatically joyful, even if you’re habitually not that way the rest of the time.

Years ago, I had trouble following through on things that I knew I should be doing. I didn’t understand why it was so difficult. It was difficult because I was not in harmony with the thing I was supposed to be doing.

Every result, condition and circumstance in your life is an opportunity for you to get from where you are to where you want to be. Each one is giving you the opportunity to correct your course.

So, if you’re struggling with something, like I was, rather than trying to beat it into submission, look it in the eye instead. Ask: “How does this move me to where I want to go?”

When you start to come up with preprogrammed beliefs, reasons why you can’t take advantage of the opportunity or how it’s not an opportunity at all, you have to let those thoughts go. Say to yourself, That is an apparent, surface explanation, but it’s not the truth. The truth is this is an opportunity for me. What is the opportunity?
Can you imagine what your life would be like if you viewed everything that happened as an opportunity? All of your so-called failures and disappointments? Your life would be a string of opportunities all pointing you in the direction you want to go. Well, that is happening, right now, whether you acknowledge it or not.

When you acknowledge it, though, you’re happier. Your results are in harmony with who you really are. You appreciate the increasingly rare negative result because it shows you that you need to course correct. In this kind of life, you experience in every way your true, divine nature.

As Hill wrote, “Somewhere in your makeup there lies sleeping this seed of achievement which, if aroused and put into action, would carry you to heights such as you may never have hoped to attain.”

It all starts with your desire. From that, everything else, including your own greatness, will follow.

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About the Author:
David Neagle, Million Dollar Income Acceleration Coach, mentors entrepreneurs to quantum leap their current businesses past the 7-Figure income level in just 12 months. David invites you to download—as his GIFT to you—his legendary “Art of Success” 4-hour audio program. This audio series is a tremendously compelling and comprehensive program that demonstrates—once and for all—that Success has nothing to do with “getting” or “achieving”, and everything to do with WHO we must BE to manifest our hearts’ true desires. For an additional bonus, Text: success to the number: 85800

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Are You Ready to Create the Life you REALLY Want?

This is your personal invitation to join me at a special workshop that will help you do just that…

Several years ago I met Jan Janzen while working with KindActs. When I first met her, I thought she was a dynamo! What a bundle of energy!

Jan and I recently met up in L.A. while attending the RISE event. While there, I had a chance to get to know her more and also gain some insight to her upcoming workshop …. which is what this invitation is all about!

I’ve been endorsing Jan’s book, ‘Getting off the Merry-Go-Round‘, since reading it and losing over 60 pounds as a result. No, Jan doesn’t sell weight loss programs but she DOES help you figure out all the ‘crap’ that is going on in your sub conscious mind that is preventing you from really being who you want to be.

Does this ring true for you? Are you…

- Struggling to create abundance in your life financially?

- Do you feel unfocused and unclear as to how to use your gifts in the world?

- Has the so-called “reality” of life overwhelmed you and robbed you of your joy?

If so, then please know that you are not alone.

This Invitation of attending Jan’s workshop will move you into a life full of joy, fulfillment and peace of mind. It’s not so much about doing, doing, doing but about being who you want to be in the world and then doing what feels very right and good.

The Invitation is an opportunity to explore your deepest dreams in an environment that will move you and inspire you to put feet to those dreams. The Invitation will reveal a divinely inspired 7 step blueprint to creating the life you really want…with all the bells and whistles!

In a hurry? Click here for more info.

Who needs to attend The Invitation?

Do any of these apply to you?

* You want a more meaningful life that is on purpose

* More abundance and prosperity is important to you

* Peace of mind and a calm heart and spirit is desirable

* A greater connection to Source is appealing

* You want to make your contribution to this planet

* You’ve got a feeling of longing, yearning and a strong desire to move ahead in your life

If you said YES to any of those questions, then it’s safe to say that The Invitation is right for you.

What will you go away with after 2 intensive days at The Invitation?

- You will leave with a completed 7 step blue-print to create the life you really want that resonates with you emotionally, mentally, spiritually, physically and financially. This is critically important as most “how to” workshops in reality stress you on many levels. Many seminars can actually work against your progress as you feel the emotions of excitement and desire and then come face to face with the old patterns of resistance, overwhelm, and fear once you are back in your usual environment.

- You will understand what triggers you positively and how to stay in that place of calm, confidence and moving forward.

- You will appreciate yourself at a whole new level and see yourself with more respect, value and deservedness.

- You will feel empowered to make choices that would have seemed too large, too scary or out of your comfort zone before the workshop.

- You will have a much greater connection to Source and will understand your partnership with the Universe in a radically new light.

Are you ready to accept this invitation and join me at this workshop?

Here’s the details:

Dates: November 14 & 15, 2009
Times: 9 – 6 Saturday, 9 – 5 Sunday
Place: Eaglequest Coyote Creek, 7778 152nd Street, Surrey, BC
Investment: $147 Early bird pricing

Click here and join me for this fabulous life-changing weekend!

I can’t wait to attend as I continue my own path of self-discovery. I really hope you decide to join me, I promise, it will be well worth it!

Susan

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Are you a true business owner and entrepreneur? Or are you just having fun at what you do and are treating your efforts more like a hobby?

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help – you might be surprised with some of the answers if you’re being honest with yourself!

• Are you clear on your business’s focus – have you defined the product or service you provide and have stuck to it or are you continually trying out other things?
• Have you registered your business name with your local government?
• Do you have a business licence with your local community?
• Do you have a dedicated business phone line? A toll free number?
• Do you have business insurance?
• Do you have legal contracts in place with the various aspects of your business?

• Do you have a clearly defined mission statement?
• Do you have a business plan? A plan that gives you a solid blueprint on how to achieve your business goals and how much it’s going to cost?
• Do you know who your competitors are and what they are doing?
• Is your business scalable in a way that it doesn’t depend on you being hands-on 100% of the time?

• Do you have a marketing plan that provides you with specific steps on how you are going to attract your perfect client and how much it’s going to cost?
• Do you have a set budget for advertising and marketing to build your client base?
• Do you know who your target market is?
• Do you have a professionally designed logo to establish your brand and appeal to your target market?
• Do you have professionally designed business cards, letterhead, promotional materials and other items to market your business?
• Do you have a professionally designed website that represents your business brand effectively, 24 hours a day – 7 days a week?
• Do you continually update and employ SEO tactics to your website to ensure optimal results?

• Are you outsourcing certain tasks to help you with the things that are not your core competency such as bookkeepers, web developers, marketers, virtual assistants or graphic designers?
• Do you have a separate office space where you can shut the door at the end of the day and leave it closed until business hours start again?
• Do you have set business hours where no emails and no phone calls occur after hours?
• Is your office space organized and systemized so that anyone could come in and take over where you left off?

• Do you keep proper books and track all of your business receipts? Or is everything stuffed in a shoe box or file folder until tax time?
• Are you aware of all the tax write-offs that you’re entitled to and use them to the fullest?
• Do you have a dedicated business bank account?
• Does ALL of your business income go into this business account and you pay yourself on a regular basis?

• Do you take whole summers off and tell yourself you’ll get busy working again in the Fall?
• Are you telling yourself you’ll kick things into gear after…. (fill in the blank)?
• Are you truly happy and passionate about doing what you do?
• Is your business fulfilling your life’s purpose or are you just going through the motions of trying to make some money?

The questions above do not cover everything when considering what is involved in running a business, by no means, but I hope they got you thinking enough to help you determine whether you are running your business like a hobby or are you seriously running your business to earn a healthy living.