Is Your Business Built on a Strong Foundation?

It used to be back in the 50’s that a woman would never dream of leaving the house without a good foundation and solid underpinnings under her dress. Well – your business works in the exact same way. I personally would not dream of creating a sustainable business without having a solid foundation to build upon!

So what do I mean by that?

Well, it’s amazing how many entrepreneurs I’ve talked to that are making 3 figures or more that are not some type of corporation or LLC with a tax ID number. You look like a business when you’re structured like a business rather than a fly-by-night type of firm.

So here are some items that I feel are important and you can follow along me making a mental note of what you might need to do to tighten up your business practices.

If you’re already doing everything I’ve mentioned – kudos to you, that’s fabulous!

So here goes:

  1. Let’s start with personal and/or general liability insurance. When I practiced medicine I couldn’t imagine going without malpractice insurance, and for example, in my Journeys of the Spirit travel business, we have errors and omissions insurance specifically designed for the travel industry.
  2. Moving on, most states and even some counties require a business license. It’s imperative that you follow the law so that you’re a reputable organization. You certainly could have your VA look into what your local requirements are. In addition, making a quick call to your accountant could help you avoid some financial issues that could be quite painful in the future!
  3. Not having a retirement plan in place for example, will have even the most frugal person spending money that’s better put into savings. There’s got to be a balance between the amount of funds you reinvest into your business and how much you’re willing to put away for your future.
  4. It’s always good practice to separate your personal and business life – and having a business checking account is a great place to start. Same with having a dedicated business phone line. I happen to like Ring Central as they have toll free numbers and a great system for receiving calls that makes you look professional. Of course there are other companies out there too.
  5. Other items that become quickly essential to your business are your autoresponder, Facebook page, professionally done photographs, domain names for your current and possibly future website addresses, and a great and reliable host for your website.
  6. Last but not leasta basic business plan is essential. That keeps us on the straight-away so that we’re constantly taking action to achieve the numbers we’ve set down on paper.

So I’m curious as to whether you’ve got your foundations firmly into place. Don’t forget to post below and let us know!

If not maybe it’s time to slap a girdle on your business and get-er-done!

Signing off – Here’s to audaciousness.



Got Confusion Around Your Target Audience?

I cannot tell you how many folks I know that are in the process of transition right now. All kinds of transition – like divorce, kids leaving home, companies downsizing, and even starting a business for the first time later in life!

So if you’re one of those deciding to create your dream business – this will be a great day to listen in, but even if you’ve had a business for a while – don’t tune out as I’m going to share some important information with you.

I want to start off with a question for you today.

So here goes: Are you clear on your target audience – the type of person that you’re looking to serve? Even if you’re not new and have been in business a while – and even if you’re earning big money – that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re clear on who your audience is. And that lack of clarity always ends up being an issue on one level or another.

For example, if you’re a coach – it’s not enough to say you coach business women. I would have to ask you for example: what age group do you want to coach, are they spiritually-minded or it does it matter, do these women own a certain type of business, are these women with children at home. Goodness – we could drill down to get the clearest picture of who your client is.

But let’s say you’re not a coach. For example, I used to be a podiatrist. Back then I asked myself – what kind of practice do I want? It’s not enough to say I want a large practice. Who doesn’t? But I know I don’t appeal to all people.

It was important to define the type of patient I was interested in treating and create my marketing in a way that would attract that exact person. For me that meant a person who held my particular ideas about health. In other words, a patient who just wanted a pill to cure them, were not my ideal client.

That said – there are some businesses that are NOT targeted at a particular demographic – but instead on a group of people who share your personal philosophy, belief system, set of values or passions. And if that’s the case in your business – then start focusing on those aspects instead of trying to pigeonhole your clients into one type of demographic.

Sometimes actual experience ends up determining what that is for us.

In other words, we start in one direction and find out that we’re not enjoying that segment of the population the way we thought we would. Well fine. No worries – simply re-adjust, re-frame, and move on. Only experience can determine whether we’re going to enjoy something – or not.

That’s why in the end we have to choose a direction and move forward even if we’re not 100% certain. Since our universe works on the principles of action-reaction you must take action to get the information you need to proceed.

Why? Because engagement creates clarity.

If you take ”imperfect action” (that means you get out there and start your business even if you’re not sure of every little thing) – you’ll begin to have more and more clarity about your target audience from a place of authenticity –  and that my friends is the way to create a tribe you’ll love.

And last but not least – always take action without judgment because it’s not about right or wrong, but rather – it’s about what you enjoy or don’t enjoy and that’s VERY personal.

So what if you end up changing direction 5 times – who cares? Better you do that than stay in a niche you don’t find fulfilling – right? Right!

So having shared this little diatribe – if there’s anything I can do for you to assist you in getting clear about your target audience – let me know.

And if you have any thoughts about what I’ve shared today post them below – I’d love to hear from you!



Does Your Personal Style Match Your Business Style?

In creating our businesses, most folks know they need a logo and a nice looking business card – but that’s just a small piece of that exclusive vibe that represents who you are as a person in the world.

The image you put forth needs to personify YOU – and everything about who you are – your message, your mission, even your Facebook page – it all needs to be in alignment with how you look, your clothes and your personal style.

I know you have a message, a service or a product you need to share in the world – and a great talent to go along with it. But I can tell you that if your personal style and branding doesn’t align with your message – people won’t be attracted to you because it will not come across as authentic.

Let me explain because there’s some science behind what I’m saying.

The human mind is always searching for alignment and truth. It senses it and is attracted to what it feels is truth and is repelled by what it feels is not truth. Why? Because we want safety and we feel safe in an honest and truthful environment.

So if you’re putting yourself forth as someone that’s successful in business and you look shlumpy or behind the times (and your website looks the same) – what will be the initial feeling that people will receive from that?

They’ll hear your message, but their mind won’t be able to find alignment between what they’re hearing and what they’re seeing physically and online.

It’s critical that your persona match your business.

Here’s a perfect example of what I’m talking about. I have a dear friend that has 18 acres of land in the mountains of north Georgia and has a glamping business (glamorous camping if you haven’t heard of it before). She used to be a merchandiser and is very creative and wanted to create a new business and lifestyle for herself out of the city. She put the most amazing decorative Indian tents (with little mirrors, bright stripes and colors) on platforms on her property with beautiful down-blankets on the beds, incredible breakfasts, compostable toilets, and darling showers in the tents.

When you meet her she’s not wearing heels and fashionable attire. She’s often barefoot, wearing a long flowing skirt and retro apron. Can you picture it? Immediately you have to smile at the whole universe and beautiful dream this woman has created – it all works perfectly and is in absolute alignment. You feel her authenticity and genuineness and can’t leave her website or property without booking a weekend.

FYI: Go glamping at www.themartynhouse.com!

And so it needs to be the same for you.

Ask yourself honestly if you need a style and branding update and if your presentation is in alignment with your authentic self. If it is you’ll be successful because people will feel your genuineness and want to work with you.  If not, you’re going to confuse people and you know what they say in business – a confused customer never buys.

So I’m curious about your experience with this – please post below and let me know what you think! And if you need any help with your personal image – let me know, I’d love to help!

Signing off – Here’s to your success!



No Plan. No Time. No Income = No Business.

One of the most crucial things that every business needs is a weekly plan. By that I mean a time-blocked work-sheet kind of plan. In other words you’re making a commitment to yourself that no matter what happens you’ve blocked quiet time to achieve certain tasks.

For example, that might mean setting aside two hours – two or three times a week in the morning to write content for your videos, articles and newsletters. It should be the same time every week so that your subconscious mind knows you’re going to go into creative mode during that time.

Now this is critical: Never schedule creative tasks and linear tasks in the same time period and always schedule creative tasks first in the day.

Why?

Because it’s difficult for the mind to jump from left-brain activities to right-brain activities with great effectiveness.

You’re better off scheduling creative endeavors one day and linear ones on another day.

So maybe two days of the week you’re creative and two days linear. Or if you can’t do that – at least start each day creative or right-brained and then segway into linear or left-brained activities if that feels better to you.

If you’re not sure what I mean by linear just to be clear – I mean doing technical work on your website, anything with HTML code, accounting, calendar planning, JV calls, learning a new computer task like your autoresponder, membership program software, Optimize Press, etc.

If you create a time-blocked calendar I promise you’ll get massive amounts of work done in a really short period of time. Do not depend on coming up with a daily schedule in the moment – I’ll bet money that it won’t work.

All super productive people have systems in place that allow them to get their books written and create their products – even when life seems to be going haywire.

If you’re waiting for your life to calm down to get a schedule in place – you might be waiting until St. Peter calls your name at the pearly gates!

Life’s always crazy and the only way to be productive and creative is if you set aside some non-negotiable time every week NOT ONLY to get your work done – but to rest and rejuvenate yourself.

Even if that’s only one hour a week to take a quiet bath with fragrant bath oils and a soft candle.

So take a moment to let me know if you have a system in place to get your creative work done.

Whatever you post will be helpful to everyone so please don’t be shy.

Signing off – Here’s to peace, power + personal alchemy.



Do You Have Fear of Taking Chances?

I was skimming through an issue of O magazine recently and the results of an interesting poll they took of their readers. The poll asked: What would you do if you had no fear? They posted quite a few of the reader’s responses which had me feeling – sad. In fact it was rather heart-breaking.

There were around a dozen lovely women who had all kinds of dreams that they fettered away due to some fear-based thought forms that they were allowing to control their lives.

This saddens me because for the past 10 years I’ve been helping people take action to create amazing lives – and to teach the skills necessary for dealing with the very thought forms our minds generate that keep us stuck in mediocrity.

The common thread in all the comments was the fear of taking chances.

So let’s talk about that for a bit since we all suffer from those kinds of thoughts. So, what are a few of the proposals our minds might put forth regarding this fear? See if any or all of these are familiar to you.

  • What if it doesn’t work out?
  • What if everyone says “I told you so?”
  • What if I don’t like the outcome I thought I wanted?
  • What if it doesn’t work out and I can’t go back – then what?

Well my question is – what if you live your entire life doing something you don’t like? If you aren’t enjoying your life right now – if you aren’t passionate about what you’re doing – then you can be absolutely certain that you’re going to live a lifetime suffering. That you can be sure of!

And if certainty is what you want in life, and if you’re willing to stick with what you think is safe as opposed to taking a chance of having an audacious, amazing, joy-filled, and passionate life – then go for it. But please don’t be complaining about it in my company.

If you’re not willing to take action regarding your circumstances then why talk about something you’re unwilling to change. No one wants to hear the same story of woe over and over again.

That’s insanity!!

So here’s the thing. No one said life was certain. You can lose that cushy job you hate tomorrow. Right? Better you take control of your life than be at the mercy of the winds of a boss, the economy, or whatever. True you can leave what you have right now and there’s no guarantee that what you want to do is going to work out.

But if it doesn’t – you can do something else. And if that doesn’t work you can do something else. And you can keep doing something else until your life is incredible.

Let go of your belief that if you leave what you have now – you have to immediately move into the perfect career next. Creating a life you love is NOT (read my lips here) – not necessarily a straight path.

If you understand that it’s filled with twists and turns and unexpected outcomes – then you won’t get nervous when you leave what you think is certain and end up starting 3 different businesses or change what you are doing several times before you create your dream job.

In the end it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks about you.

It only matters about what you want to do in your life, and what your deepest desires are. The ones coming from your heart that are guiding you to manifest the talents and blessings only YOU were imbued with from birth.

So if you’re one of those people who are saying: “If I wasn’t afraid I’d be doing x,y or z” – please get someone to help you change that right now rather than waiting years and suffering a slow and painful existence. Truly there’s no reason to not to be creating miracles in your life.

You deserve it, you’re worth it, and there are plenty of people in your life to cheer you on and help you when you’re feeling lost.

All you have to do is take advantage of all the universe has placed in your path to assist you! If it’s really meant to be – you might find your life crumbling to pieces around you in a conspiracy to push you to be all you can be in life.

And why wait for that to happen?

So please post your ah-ha’s and thoughts about what I’ve shared today. Remember – what you post could change someone else’s life – so don’t hold back.