PUBLISHER’S NOTE Create Your Success from the Inside Out! Did you know when you started your business that it would be your university of personal growth and transformation? Did you realize that any of the things that challenged you in your personal life, like managing finances, taking risks or standing up for yourself, would show up in your business where you would have to address them? Oh, the joy of self-employment. What a wonderful journey we have signed up for. This month, we celebrate success from the inside out. If we want things in our business to change, it starts with changing who we are. Often, nothing changes until we change. That is why this month we focus on you, the entrepreneurial woman. We hope to inspire you to look at where you notice there is room for improvement within yourself. Maybe you want to be more acknowledging, better at managing your time or more positive. Now is the time to take a look and see what you want to upgrade within yourself. The idea is that the better you are, the better your business will be as well. In this issue, we shine our cover spotlight on Stephanie C. Harper. She is an amazing woman who knows the importance of cultivating success from the inside out. She leads events and retreats for women to get real about their businesses and lives. She also emphasizes the importance of being the queen of your life. I love that. Read more about Stephanie on page 5 and be inspired. As you read this issue, reflect on you and how you are in your business and life. Is there anything that needs attention? Maybe you could benefit from some time away to ponder and reflect. In your pursuit of self-improvement, take a look at the events listed on our site. Some might be a match for you. There you will also find more articles and podcasts to support you as well. Visit www.twibc.com today!
To Your Thriving Success! Caterina Rando 2
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Uplift Others and Watch Yourself Soar by Caterina Rando
Stephanie C. Harper is a coach, sought-after speaker, radio show host, event producer, multiple-book author, mother, wife and great girlfriend to all who know her. Like many women in business, from a young age she had a desire to serve others. Early in her career, Stephanie found out that human resources is the department that touches every part of a business. So she became the best human resources professional she could be. Soon Stephanie found that others sought her out for advice and guidance, and she wanted to help. Working for someone else was interfering with her desire to serve as many people as she could. That prompted her to take a leap of faith, leave her corporate life and became a business coach to help others reach their goals and dreams. Stephanie says, “I realized I had to make my dreams a reality before I could help others achieve theirs.” Stephanie is grateful every day for mustering up the courage to go out on her own. She shares that her biggest challenge is finding the right resources, both in capital and in team. This is understandable, because she runs her business with high standards and her top values of integrity and service. She says, “Without those, a business cannot survive.” Stephanie has important advice for us all: “Don't allow others’ doubt to become your doubt. People will always tell you why you can't do something... Prove that you can! Build a dream team and make your dreams real.” “I have found that if you meet the needs of other people, they will continue to support you. I always make my services and events beneficial to others. I do everything from a place of service. Do that, and you will always be successful.” Find out more about Stephanie at www.stephanieharper.com or ring her directly at 404-604-4511. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ speakstephanie 4
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SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT ISSUE
8) The Inner Game of Success By Andrea Woolf 10) Happiness Starts Inside Your Mind By Lee Richter 12) Creating Success from the Inside Out By Debbie Mrazek 14) Style Expression from the Inside Out! By Marion Gellatly 16) Feng Shui: The Life Force Essence for Success from the Inside Out By Linda Lenore 18) Is Email Your Full-Time Job? By Bibi Goldstein 20) Super Tips to Cultivate Your Success from the Inside Out By Caterina Rando
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22) Authentic Marketing Starts Within: Part One By Linda Basso
36) Are You Sabotaging YOUR OWN SUCCESS? By Maya Bailey
50) Are You the CEO of Your Business? By Laurie Zerga
24) Living Your Brand from the Inside Out By Tammy Tribble
38) BIS Smart Tip By Benita Ibrahim
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26) Buy/Sell Agreements: Do You Need One? By Nancy Lewellen, Esq. 28) 3 Ways to Become a Standout Entrepreneur Author By Robbin Simons 30) Midyear Check-In to Review Your Business Success By Candy Messer 32) Ready to BE Uncomfortable for Greater Success By Jenenne Macklin 34) S.E.L.F.C.A.R.E. to Succeed By Laura Gisborne
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40) The Money Tree By Lu Casillas 42) Embrace Your Feminine Skills and Take Your Place at the NEW Leadership Table By Paula Pacheco 44) Network for Success By Nancy Karas 46) Hack Your Ideas in Half the Time By Tobey Allen 48) Planning an Efficient Internet Marketing Strategy Part 1 By Diana Morgan
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SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT ISSUE THE INNER GAME of Success By Andrea Woolf How do you define success? Externally or internally? Surprisingly, it is really common to define success externally, for example, by comparing yourself to others, taking on someone else’s standards, or living up to others’ expectations of you. When you define success externally, you may well minimize or sabotage any success you accomplish by feeling like you ‘should’ have done more, better, quicker – and on and on. It will rarely be fulfilling or feel like a personal victory because you are looking outwards instead of inwards. However, truly meaningful success most definitely comes from within you. It is an experience you create for yourself in your business and your life. It is on your terms. You and only you get to define what success is to you – what you want to accomplish, how you want to grow, what you want to learn, and where you want to shine. The more specific you are, the better. Create clear criteria to define your success so you will clearly know when you have achieved key milestones along the way, as well as the goals that you set for yourself. Then, embrace how far you have come, acknowledge yourself, and celebrate your success. To fully embrace your success: • Believe in yourself—Be your own biggest champion/cheerleader/ supporter. • Dream big—Reach for the moon. Be excited about what you’re up to – it will carry you through anything that might slow you down. 8
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• • •
Unleash your passion—Give yourself permission to be zesty and passionate, and shine in the world. Be unstoppable—Be ‘all in.’ Be committed, focused, and energized letting nothing get in your way. Celebrate—Remember to celebrate your successes before you scurry off to the next one! Here’s to your massive success! Andrea Woolf is the founder and coach extraordinaire for Women of Impact, a vibrant community of women coming together to change their business and life, and transform the world. She is the author of Ignite Your Life – How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be, and helps women achieve amazing results and truly connect to the difference they make. Find out more about Andrea and all her exciting upcoming programs and events at www.andreawoolf.com. Andrea would love to hear from you at 949-713-7734 or via email at andrea@andreawoolf.com.
Release Your Inner Champion What Is Holding You Back? • Do you know you could be, do and have more, and you’re getting in your own way? • Are you your biggest critic? • Are you being called to play a bigger game in business and in life? If you answered yes to any of the above, come to www.andreawoolf.com/innerchampion to find out how to Release Your Inner Champion!
Andrea Woolf Founder of Women of Impact
andrea@andreawoolf.com • (949) 713-7734
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SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT ISSUE HAPPINESS Starts Inside Your Mind By Lee Richter Why is it that when we hear a group of people laughing, we naturally want to know what is making them laugh? We want some of that happy juice, too. And if you notice, young kids tend to laugh a lot. So many things make them laugh, and it’s easy for them to be in that joyful energy. That is the key—kids are very present in the moment.
When you want more happiness in your life, set your intention to focus on the things that bring joy into your life. Feel that happy feeling on the inside, and it will show on the outside. And you can have a very happy day … every day! Lee Richter is an innovator and for more than 30 years, she has built successful and dynamic community-driven businesses. Her unique vision and system generate massive results, proven by her highly successful companies, which produce millions of dollars, hundreds of jobs, support communities and educate thousands of people all over the world. Lee has been working with happiness experts for many years and www.sharehappinessnow.com is her passion project she shares with the world.
Happiness starts with our thoughts and our perspective. Whatever your mind is focused on is what bubbles up into your entire being. Your smile is a key indicator of your physical happiness level. When you want to embrace more happiness in your life, focus on what you are thinking about and how those thoughts are making you feel. And then, think about something that makes you really happy—like playing with puppies, or an adventure with your family, or a day at the spa—and visualize that time. Notice the feelings that you have when you are thinking about the great things in your life. When you are immersed in happy thoughts, it shows on the outside. You resonate at a different frequency, and other people are drawn to you. Yes, they want the happy juice, too. And when you are angry, sad, or frustrated, guess what types of people are drawn to you? Yes, angry, sad, and frustrated people who are operating on that frequency. 10
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SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT ISSUE CREATING SUCCESS from the Inside Out By Debbie Mrazek Have you ever wondered why some business people are able to achieve their goals faster than others? Is it something that they have or some talent that you haven’t developed yet? While some may have a natural ability that allows them to do certain things more easily, it is more likely that they have created their success from the inside out.
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Release – It is common for us to allow our fears to control our behavior. If you can overcome that mentality, you can then start to believe in your abilities and that you can achieve whatever you set your mind to. It all comes down to believing in yourself and your abilities and being happy with the person that you are.
Start now by applying these ideas for creating YOUR success from the inside out! Debbie Mrazek is president of The Sales Company, a Texasbased firm that is helping hundreds of entrepreneurs, individuals and corporations better assess, understand and engage in practical, purposeful selling. With “Mrazek Energy”—believed to be from another world, since it is a constant flow of happiness and enthusiasm—Debbie teaches the tools and techniques and how to transform them into S-A-L-E-S for YOU. www.the-sales-company.com.
Ideas to create YOUR success: •
Foundation – As with anything, it is important to have a strong foundation from which to build. Without being aware of it, many of us have been instilled with anti-success beliefs. You need to overcome those negative thoughts to create a strong, positive foundation.
•
Find the Source – Once you are aware of the fact that you may not believe in yourself and your abilities, you can then make the decision to stop believing those negative thoughts. When you continue to feed the negativity, you will not be able to achieve any of your dreams. Start thinking positively to overcome the self-limiting beliefs you have.
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Put It in Reverse – The more aware you become of the negative thoughts that have been holding you back, the faster you can stop them from controlling your beliefs. Our beliefs are what create our reality; if you believe you are not worthy, then you will not become successful. Reverse these thoughts, start thinking that you are worth it, and you can achieve anything you want.
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The Sales Company puts a little caffeine in your sales. T H E
S A L E S
C O M P A N Y
Be the competition. Contact Debbie Mrazek
www.The-Sales-Company.com
972 618 1880
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All About Business
STYLE EXPRESSION from the Inside Out! By Marion Gellatly, AICI CIM Learning to understand and appreciate yourself can be a lifelong process. Expressing your beauty starts by knowing who you are on the inside and then expressing that on the outside. Put your unique beauty out there for others to see. Life experiences can cloud your innate knowing, and critical voices form. Do any of these messages live in you? • I don’t have time to care for myself or my appearance. • I’d rather spend time and money on my family, not on me. • Caring about my appearance is shallow. • Caring about my appearance isn’t necessary if I’m intelligent. • It’s too expensive. • My husband loves me just the way I am. When you clear the inner critical messages, a beautiful You waits to be expressed.
SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT ISSUE Color choices, clothing personality, and accessories speak volumes before you say a word. Let your inner essence out and create the permission for others to do it too. Be visible, and be your best self! Start expressing your essence! Yearning to have the support, strategies, insights, and inspiration that will enable you to step into the next evolution of You? Learn about Virtual Style School at www.powerful-presence.com/vss. Marion Gellatly has made it her job to help women gain confidence in dressing to support their professional goals and personal brand. She is passionate about educating women so they can confidently master the nuances of their visual communication, a big part of which is professional appearance. Marion is an engaging speaker, author, and recognized leader in the field of image management and has been supporting women for over 20 years. Marion can be reached at mlgellatly@powerfulpresence.com.
Three steps to proclaiming your essence and beauty: Give yourself permission to share it. It is practical, empowering and joyful to always look your best. 1. Explore your essence. What do you appreciate about yourself and about other women? We often appreciate in ourselves what we appreciate in others. 2. Dressing for self-expression is powerful. Be clear about what you want others to know about you. 3. Learn how. Your style and wardrobe is a language. When you wonder if certain clothing is you, determine if the clothing’s expression represents you authentically.
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SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT ISSUE FENG SHUI: The Life Force Essence for Success from the Inside Out By Linda Lenore
Feng Shui is the Life Force Essence inside us expressed outward into the world. The words Feng (wind) and Shui (water) are the essential elements of life needed by our bodies—“wind” equates to air we breathe, providing oxygen, and “shui” refers to water, preventing us from dehydration. Many people think Feng Shui is only for the interior of homes. In reality, it is the energy, chi or Source of Life of all creatures and objects on Earth. Our energy affects the Earth’s energy and the Earth’s energy affects our energy. Feng Shui is an “inside job”—inside our bodies and inside our buildings.
our buildings are reflections of our soul. Designing sacred living spaces, we reveal our authentic selves. You are a beautiful creation of the Universe. Fully embody your unique essence. Infuse it into your office while embracing your success. Let your brilliant light shine. Be a beacon of success to light the path for others to follow, helping them find their way. This brings us infinite riches and success! Linda Lenore is a Feng Shui Master, Certified Green Building Professional and vital office/home consultant whose clients include Adobe®, Bank of the West®, Ritz-Carlton® and international personalities. Quoted as an “expert” in the Wall Street Journal®, Christian Science Monitor®, San Jose Mercury News® (front page), Better Homes & Gardens® publications, and European documentaries, she’s known for creating corporate and home environments that stimulate success and soothe the soul. A bestselling and award-winning author, international columnist and former University of California faculty member, her amazing Hallmark® Channel segment, Lifetime Media appearances, and presentations have inspired audiences through design, ancient wisdoms and stories. Linda is known as “The Healing Designer.” Linda can be reached at linda@lindalenore.com.
Connecting Body to Building and Success to Soul Every building part equates to a body part. For example, doors represent mouths, windows are eyes and air-consuming furnaces relate to our lungs. Maintaining, changing and improving areas of our building positively affect our body. When we focus our attention on our home or office, and lovingly taking care of it, we energetically give loving care to our bodies. This “home-caring” is a way to care for our soul. A completed project, whether de-cluttering our desk, painting a room or hanging art on the wall, represents an inner success and connection to our soul. Interior Spaces – Connecting to Your Success from the Inside Out My first business name was Interior Spaces. It perfectly expresses my belief that 16
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IS EMAIL Your Full-Time Job? By Bibi Goldstein For many, the answer to this question is definitely YES! How many mornings do you sit down at your desk, start reading and responding to emails, then look up to realize that half the day is over? It’s easy to get caught up in conversational emails and tough to step away, sometimes, to do the actual work. Email is meant to be an efficient method of communication, but for many it has turned out to be the one thing that keeps them from being productive. Like many other things in our lives, it’s important to set boundaries with email, and return it to what it was originally intended for. Here are three simple rules to follow to keep email from becoming your full time job: 1. Establish a schedule to check your email, and then close the program. Set a timer for 15-20 minutes, then move on to actual work for 40-45 minutes, then go back to email, and so on. 2. Create a priority sender list and handle those emails first. Also, don’t be afraid of unsubscribing to emails that are no longer relevant to you. Bonus tip: If you send out marketing emails, NEVER look at who unsubscribes; your empathy could be keeping your inbox cluttered. 3. Only keep emails in your inbox that require action and delete or file them once handled. This will allow you to look toward a goal of a zero-email inbox. Email is truly an effective way to communicate and document that communication. Be aware of the “do unto others as you would have done unto you” theory, and be concise and clear in your emails. Better yet, pick up the phone occasionally, and take care of something in a matter of minutes rather than sending too many emails. Bibi Goldstein is the founder and CEO of Buying Time LLC, a virtual assistant service, serving small businesses and entrepreneurs around the globe. Bibi is a speaker, author and time management guru. Connect with Bibi on her website www.buyingtimellc.com.
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SUPER TIPS to Cultivate Your Success From the Inside Out By Caterina Rando The truth about our success is that it is a synthesis of what we do combined with who we are. Changing who we are can change the results we create in our life. If you want more success in your life, start with shining the spotlight on you. Follow these ideas to get started: Know that you deserve it. When you obtain the knowing that you deserve success, and you visualize and affirm it with all your actions, you begin to truly know that you do, in fact, deserve what you desire. Your unfettered desire is key to your ongoing accomplishment. Be certain in your value. Know that you have massive value to bring. Keep track in writing or with video all the great results you have gotten for clients. In a moment of doubt, review those results to remind yourself of what you know but momentarily forgot. When you know you have massive value to bring, you behave that way, serve others better and become more successful.
SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT ISSUE Make time for absolutely nothing. With our busy lives, it is essential to slow down, stop and listen to our hearts, hear our intuition and notice how people, decisions and situations make us feel. The more we are connected to our inner voice of guidance the more we will know what is true for us. Pick one of these ideas to focus on to cultivate even more success from the inside out. Caterina Rando is a master business coach for women, a sought-after speaker and the publisher of this magazine. See all that Caterina has to offer women entrepreneurs to thrive at www.caterinarando.com or via email at cat@caterinarando.com
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Use your voice more. You might be the very best at what you do, but if no one knows that, then it will not matter. It is up to you to spread the word about the value you bring. You have to share in conversations, online and in your marketing copy all the ways you can serve others. You must be your own best PR team. Be loud and proud about the value you bring. Be more positive. To be more successful, be more positive. No one wants to do business with a complaining, downer person. The more positive you are, the more your calls will be returned and people will be excited to connect with you and the more vitality you will have. Self-care is required. If you are out sick, tired, or going to the doctor all the time, your business is impacted. Get a great night sleep, drink your water, move your body and practice gratitude. Self-care is you affirming that you do deserve success and want more vitality to serve more. 20
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SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT ISSUE AUTHENTIC MARKETING Starts Within: Part One By Linda Basso The first in a series about marketing from within to bring about the best results—for you and your clients! The four pillars of spiritual marketing involve getting clear on the truth, plan, message and path within your business. The first pillar—the truth— is the powerful foundation that aligns you and your approach for more ease.
own truths in your business. What it is you want—and don’t. Doing so brings a strange sensation of freedom. That’s because telling the honest truth is an act of being present to all parts of yourself. Marketing from there is easier because it is authentic. Want to know more about the pillars of marketing and how they create a truly authentic approach? Read more at www.twibc.com/expert/lindabasso Linda Basso is a marketing coach with a spiritual attitude that supports entrepreneurs in growing their businesses, their impact and their revenue. Her four pillars of spiritual marketing can help you get the results you want, be real and have fun while you do it. For 22 years, she has created brands and campaigns for Kimpton® Hotels & Restaurants, Jamba Juice®, Disney®, and many small businesses. She has helped her clients win many awards, along with placements in publications such as The Wall Street Journal®, TIME® Magazine, and the front cover of WIRED® magazine. Reach her at 510-381-3094 or www.lindabasso.com.
How to sit in your marketing truth: •
Get clear on your unique YOU. In marketing, we talk a lot about your ideal clients and what they are like. We don’t spend as much time talking about the unique vision and special something that you bring to the table. But that’s exactly what is making your business possible at all. Be bold in owning your point of view, your perspective and yes, even your quirks. It’s your particular vision that makes you who you are! I often see women entrepreneurs discounting their views, which is a mistake. Own your unique perspective and bring it to your products/services, marketing messages, sales conversations and client relationships. That’s being authentically visible.
•
Admit what’s really true. Sometimes it’s scary to admit your truth. What if it is in conflict with someone else’s? Or if it means you need to make changes? Better to go on pretending everything’s okay. Not really. I didn’t say you have to act on it, at least not yet. The first step is admitting your
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SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT ISSUE LIVING YOUR BRAND from the Inside Out By Tammy Tribble Have you ever been to a networking event and met an amazing woman who was outgoing and wearing bright, happy colors, and when she spoke, her eyes sparkled—only to later find that her business card was incredibly corporate in design, in no way reflecting the life and vitality she radiated in person? Many entrepreneurs feel they have to look a certain way, speak a certain way, be a certain way and present themselves like a corporation in order to be taken seriously. That couldn’t be further from the truth!
Do your visuals match your awesomeness? Just like the example earlier, if you are a person who wears pink and has a happy disposition, then have a logo and visuals that are in alignment with your unique and amazing business. Take a look at your website and marketing materials and say your elevator speech, and if they do not feel genuine, then make a change and start living your brand from the inside out today. Tammy Tribble is the founder of Mimetic Design Systems, Inc., where she works with entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and business owners who are ready to stand out from the crowd and make a difference within their target markets. She is a branding specialist, providing businesses with communication and marketing materials designed to tell everyone about their amazing business. She helps her clients fulfill their dreams and make their vision a reality! Contact Tammy at 510-881-8446, or tammyt@mimeticsystems.com.
Branding from the inside out is just that: capturing your unique personality and voice, and transferring it to everything you do, everything you say and every marketing piece you put out into the world. Look, breath and speak your brand with pride and confidence! You have so much value to bring and your clients are attracted to the very things that make you YOU. Don’t hide who you are under a perceived ideal of what a business should do. Craft an elevator speech as unique as you are. If you use the word “awesome” in your normal speech, use it in your elevator speech. Craft it as if you’re talking to your ideal peeps. Let them know the benefits of working with you. People are drawn to genuine character and integrity.
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SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT ISSUE BUY/SELL AGREEMENTS:
Do You Need One? By Nancy Lewellen, Esq. If you have a business partner or partners, you should consider drafting a Buy/Sell Agreement for your company, which is like a prenuptial agreement for your business. A good Buy/Sell Agreement should minimally address the following: 1. How is the business valued and by whom? 2. What is the amount of each partner’s share, and how is it valued? 3. Who gets to buy out the other partner(s) in the event of company dissolution or disagreement over company direction? 4. Are there any restrictions on transferring the shares of the company? 5. How will the buyout take place (i.e. over what time period, cash only, or payment from a loan or other assets)? 6. If the partners are married, their spouses should sign an agreement that they will not become partners in the business by will, divorce or other means (Spousal Consent Agreement). 7. If the partners cannot agree on the above, specify a method of dispute resolution, such as mediation or arbitration, paid for by all partners. 8. What shall be done with a partner’s shares in the event of his/her permanent or temporary disability or death? 9. Are there rights of first refusal by remaining partner(s) to buy out shares of departing/deceased partner(s)? 10. What timeframe is given to partners when the business will be sold to them or outside parties? 11. Who owns the patents or trademarks (if any)? 26
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A Buy/Sell Agreement is best drafted at the beginning of a company’s life, when everyone still likes each other. Often it will point out possible issues among partners way before they come into being, and allow them to be addressed in a fair and unemotional way. By having each partner buy into the Agreement, a lot of time and effort can be saved in the event of a split. Nancy Lewellen, MBA/JD is a real estate, business, and international law attorney, a California licensed real estate and mortgage broker, and managing partner of the Palladian Law Group. She practices arbitration, mediation and transactional work, has International Law and Public Interest Law Certificates from Santa Clara University School Of Law, and interned with the UN in Geneva, Switzerland. Nancy previously held lending and credit policy positions with three major banks for nineteen years, and had her own commercial mortgage and residential mortgage brokerage firms for ten years prior to law school. You may contact Nancy at 415-399-0993 or at nyl@palladianlawgroup.com.
For more from Nancy, visit www.twibc.com/author/nancylewellen
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SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT ISSUE 3 WAYS TO BECOME a Standout Entrepreneur Author
the book. Readers will almost always see this tactic for what it is—a ploy to get their email address. Be strategic when placing opt-in links. It’s not about the number of opt-in opportunities. It’s about the quality of the offer.
By Robbin Simons
Get started and apply these tips to be an outstanding entrepreneur author!
Anyone can write a book, but not everyone can write an outstanding book or be an outstanding Entrepreneur Author. One might think the difference would lie in writing skill, eloquence, verbiage and flow. These are all important components, but for the Entrepreneur Author, the key elements that contribute to a successful book product vary surprisingly from what you might expect.
Robbin Simons, founder and CEO of Crescendo Publishing, is the leading expert on lead-generation book publishing and platform growth. Through her exclusive publishing programs, she takes aspiring author-preneurs from idea to published author in 90 days and to-date, has a 100 percent success rate in creating Amazon® best-sellers. In addition to being the best-selling author of multiple books herself, Robbin’s work has been featured in many online and offline media outlets, and her authors have been featured in major television and print media outlets including Forbes®, NBC’s Today Show, Huffington Post, The Dr. Oz Show, USA Network and many more. Connect with Robbin at robbin@crescendopublishing.com or at www.crescendopublishing.com.
The Entrepreneur Author’s book is written to promote her business, build her subscriber list, and establish herself as an expert. If you are an aspiring Entrepreneur Author contemplating whether to finally write that book you’ve been thinking about for so long, here are a few things to consider if you would like to be outstanding rather than just okay: Share case studies and client stories. By sharing case studies and client stories with permission, of course your readers are able to identify with these narratives and see that there is a way to solve their problems. This provides proof to readers that what your offer worked for someone, and it can work for them too. Include a relevant CTA. Show the reader how to get from your book to your website, and give her a compelling reason to give you her contact information. Provide a link to where the reader can download a helpful checklist, an audio, or some other useful giveaway that’s educational, yet enticing. Don’t be salesy. I’ve seen many great books get a bad reputation and a bad review— because the author has included an opt-in link in every chapter of 28
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SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT ISSUE MIDYEAR CHECKIN to Review Your Business Success
If you find you're not on track, you have time to make adjustments to improve your situation before the end of the year. It's a good idea to meet with your CPA, review your financial picture, and see what changes can be made to guarantee success for the next six months and beyond.
By Candy Messer We are half way through 2016 and it's time to review your business to date to determine how you're doing. Are you meeting the success goals you established for yourself, or are you struggling and wondering what changes should be implemented?
Candy Messer is President of Affordable Bookkeeping and Payroll Services and energizes business owners by removing the burden of the bookkeeping and payroll processing from their shoulders. With 15 years of experience, Candy understands the stresses business owners face and offers customized services to meet their varying needs, including bookkeeping, payroll, Quickbooks consulting, and bill pay services. Candy works with service-based business owners who are overwhelmed with the paperwork required to stay in compliance for filings and frees them to focus on what they love to grow their businesses. Visit her website at www.abandp.com for more information.
Below are a few areas in your business to review to help you determine if you are on the path for success: •
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Is your revenue increasing compared to prior years, or are sales flat (or even less than last year)? If you don't have actual growth (not just higher revenue due to increased prices), it can be a signal that your sales strategy may need to be updated. Do you have plenty of money in the bank, or is cash flow tight? If you have difficulty paying your liabilities, that can be a signal that serious adjustments need to be made to turn your financial situation around. One of the main reasons businesses fail is poor cash flow. What expenses can you minimize to improve your bank balance? Are you charging the correct price for the services you offer? It's important to analyze all of your costs to make sure your pricing covers every expense involved in selling your product, including overhead costs. Often, entrepreneurs underprice their services by not realizing the full costs involved in providing the product/service in the marketplace. Be sure to calculate your fixed costs, including rent, insurance, utilities, labor, taxes, and more, into your pricing strategy. Subscribe for FREE at www.twibc.com
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SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT ISSUE READY TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE for Greater Success By Jenenne Macklin If you’re familiar with Lululemon, the athletic attire company, you know their shopping bag features inspirational statements compelling you to live a life of inspiration, fun, and joy. The one I love most says, “Do one thing every day that scares you.” It beckons you to allow the butterflies you feel in your stomach when standing on the precipice of change, or taking a leap of faith, to be your guide.
Here’s the promise offered when you decide to BE uncomfortable—make a radical choice to create who you are becoming rather than settling for who you are, and you can create a life and business that is vibrant, alive, fulfilling, and successful from the inside out. Ready to be uncomfortable? Schedule your complimentary session now at marla@spiritandriches.com Jenenne Macklin is passionate about partnering with successful, heart-centered women in business to know their value, create wealth and leverage their feminine power to create fulfillment, a sustainable business and luxurious lifestyle. She has a gift for intuitively guiding women to uncover their purpose, passion and power. As a transformational speaker, coach and author, Jenenne is a powerhouse of empowerment, inspiration and a catalyst for women to have clarity, confidence and courage to live their dreams. Jenenne would love to hear from you at: 310-978-7133 or jenenne@jenennemacklin.com.
What are five things that scare you? Being transparent about feelings? Going for a bodacious goal? Putting yourself first? Actions that stir your soul and open your heart? Meditating daily? It’s interesting how often people complain about their life, saying it’s the “same ole, same ole,” yet they won’t venture outside their comfort zone. Sure, some level of routine is good, like daily brushing and flossing, getting a good night’s sleep, and healthful eating; however, after that, it’s game on! Genius, success, and fulfillment waits for you just outside your comfort zone. The goal is to live consciously instead of on automatic pilot. Step across the invisible line, and follow the butterflies for happiness, success, and fulfillment. Identify at least five things you’re scared of, feel the butterflies, and choose one daily. Maybe you change your daily routine, drive to work a different way, or try a new class. For your business, maybe you increase your sales calls. Or, do something you know your business needs but that you’re scared of. 32
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SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT ISSUE S.E.L.F.C.A.R.E. to Succeed
Receive. This sounds a little silly, but the “A” for ask won’t work if you don’t allow yourself to receive. Receiving is a form of giving. Both are necessary for results and to fill your well so you can get out to serve others.
By Laura Gisborne
Ease. Struggle is addictive, but it may not serve you well. Instead, learn to slow down and pay attention to all that is being provided for you easily.
I am frequently asked, “How do you do everything you do, and still find time to take care of yourself?” I think the answer lies in knowing where to focus. After many years of not doing this very well, I have finally found that there are a few things that, when I do them, make life and business easier and more enjoyable.
It is not too good to be true. You are here to make a difference. When you take care of yourself first, you are present, strong and capable of helping others. Laura Gisborne is a highly successful business expert. She has owned nine companies, ranging from small boutique businesses to a multi-million dollar wine and real estate empire. The innovative business model of her current company, Legacy Leaders Global, exemplifies that businesses can be both profitable and purposeful. Through her initiatives, thousands of people are receiving regular contributions in multiple countries across five continents. Receive a free copy of her book, Stop the Spinning at www.laurafreebook.com.
Sleep. Sleep is non-negotiable. Adults need seven hours. No exceptions. No shortcuts. Schedule it. Exercise. Our stressful lifestyles create toxins in the body that can’t be removed without movement. Set yourself up for success and schedule a class you enjoy or a simple walk around the block. Your body and brain will thank you. Let go. Successful leaders know to stay in their lane. What are you great at? Do these activities and then surround yourself with a team that is great at the things that don’t bring you joy or your highest results. Fuel. Like any fine machine, your body needs the right fuel—more water than you think you need and live foods make everything vibrant. Community. No one succeeds alone. Ask. If you don’t, how can help be provided? 34
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SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT ISSUE ARE YOU SABOTAGING YOUR OWN SUCCESS? By Maya Bailey Have you ever felt like you reached a plateau and could go no higher? If so, you're not alone. Many people sabotage their own success. This article teaches you how to reverse self-sabotage. In my work as a business coach for the past 15 years, I have had many people as kquestions like, "Why can't I be more successful? Why do I stop myself? I feel like I am my own worst enemy."
They need to work hard at reprogramming the selflimiting belief, "To be successful you have to work very, very hard," and replace it with an empowered belief, such as, "I am committed to working smarter, not harder." For steps 2 and 3, visit my expert page at www.twibc.com/author/maya-bailey Dr. Maya’s passion is showing women how to create multiple sixfigure incomes by discovering and releasing the hidden self-limiting beliefs that stop them from success. When clients come to Dr. Maya, they typically say, “Dr. Maya, I know what I should be doing, I’m just not doing it. Can you help me?” Dr. Maya was a psychologist in private practice for 15 years and has been a mindset business coach for women entrepreneurs for the last 15 years. Visit her website at 90daystomoreclients.com and email her for a complimentary consultation and a Test Drive session at coachmaya@ gmail.com. For a complimentary Business Breakthrough Coaching Session, email her at coachmaya@gmail.com.
If you have ever felt this way, you're probably suffering from a pattern of selfsabotage in which you get in your own way. While your conscious mind is saying, "I want to be more successful," your subconscious mind is caught in a "fear of success syndrome." There are several things that cause people to be afraid of success: 1. They associate success with stress It is a prevailing idea in our society that if you want to be successful, you have to work hard, struggle and strive. Many of my clients have done that and reached a place of "burnout." Then, they are faced with the dilemma of wanting to move forward, but having a very unpleasant memory of what it was like before.
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SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT ISSUE BIS Smart Tip By Benita Ibrahim When I started my business, there was very little help was available for small businesses in my industry. I learned a lot on my own. I want to help you avoid the many mistakes I made. With these simple tips and tools, you can create a thriving business to be proud of, maintain a loyal team, gain longevity, boost company cultural morale and lead well. BE PRESENT! In any industry, it’s vital that YOU, as a leader, are present! It is not enough to be present in ownership and title, and to occasionally be there physically. To be effective, you must lead by example physically, mentally and socially, and to be emotionally invested in your industry. It’s difficult to lead your team without mutual trust, loyalty or respect, and you can only gain these by building strong relationships within the company.
Team members must know you are there in the trenches right alongside them, and that you have their backs and best interest at heart on a daily basis. Being present means that you not only care about the business, but you also care about your team and helping them succeed! Being present helps to build strong relationships and helps to develop a strong team! They need you. Benita Ibrahim, is a small business owner for over 23 years. A bestselling author, speaker, leadership educator, mentor and consultant. Benita believes the secret to success is in loving what you do and creating positive relationships within that environment. She has been featured in several well known women’s magazines and received several awards for her contribution to education and leadership in the community, currently sits on The Board of Directors of The ALC at Northwood University and FFW a non-profit organization advocating against teen and adult domestic violence and abuse. Visit her website at www.benitaibrahimsolutions.com or email her at bisconsulting@ benitaibrahimsolutions.com
Build strong relationships with your staff. You do this by changing your mindset. Understand that, as a leader, that you are the greatest servant to your staff. How you treat them makes a huge impact on the success of your company. For instance, ask a team member how her mother’s surgery went, and be emotionally invested enough to send get well soon flowers. Another example is staging a Staff Appreciation Day—take your team on a spa day or host a company barbecue just to say, “Thank you for a job well done.” 38
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SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT ISSUE THE MONEY TREE By Lu Casillas
Hypothetically, what if you could have your own money tree? What dreams and desires would it feed? Could it give you more freedom? Perhaps more things. When I asked ten women this question, it was interesting to hear many say they wanted more THINGS, like purses, cars and clothing. Only a small percentage was thinking long-term. Long-term thinking is crucial today. Does that sound boring? What’s not being addressed is lowering your future taxes and limiting volatility, making sure that if you become ill, you will have the funds to protect your family and/or received treatments deserved without losing your hard-earned money.
Only 31 percent of the labor force participates in a 401k. Of those, the majority tap that plan before age 59 ½. Meaning, not only do they pay taxes, but they pay a 10 percent penalty. For the 80 percent of bankruptcies that happen, did you know that about 68 percent of them happen because of illness? Health Insurance doesn’t cover everything. There is a way to build your financial future that’s like a money tree. Walt Disney did it! It’s called an Insured Investment. Lu Casillas, is the educator and creator of Blend2Day, supporting women to find Balance in Life, Educating one another through Networking, and making their Dreams become reality. As a specialist at FCA, it is her goal to help women create a wealth preservation strategy that allows access to funds while also building a lifetime income stream.
So, hypothetically, I give you a money tree that fruits $12,000 annually, and I show you a place to house that $12,000 a year for ten years—that’s $120,000—and it gives you: • Guaranteed compound growth • Low volatility • Lower taxes • Guaranteed tax- free income for life • Emergency family protection • Protection in case of chronic, critical or terminal illness • The ability for your business to continue even without you Would you nurture that tree? Or would you pluck it bald and start over annually, only to end up with no future growth after those ten years? 40
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SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT ISSUE EMBRACE YOUR FEMININE SKILLS and Take Your Place at the NEW Leadership Table By Paula Pacheco
Our image of leadership has always been masculine. Society has rewarded men who are focused, decisive, daring, fearless and dominant. Make no mistake; those masculine skills are what made this country great. What we need now to solve today’s morass of complex issues are feminine skills that guide people to work in community to solve problems. Feminine skills, such as deep listening, inclusion, empathy, finding common ground, collaboration, emotional intelligence, support for others and intuitive thinking. It is these feminine leadership skills that are critical for success in the 21st-century business environment.
Like the superheroes of our mythos who came into being when we most needed them, our world desperately needs your feminine skills. When you proudly and openly use those skills and embrace their power, you are helping to validate the new kind of leadership as feminine, which is just as powerful as masculine. Then come and take your rightful place at the new leadership table. Paula’s professional background includes Fortune 500 companies such as the Bank of America, IBM, PG&E, the Pacific Stock Exchange, the entertainment industry, the non-profit sector and high-tech startups. Paula’s 17 years in the corporate arena turned her into a dynamic, strong, results-oriented operations development and change professional experienced in analyzing, managing, training, growing and restructuring business operations. In 1992, Paula earned a BA in liberal studies with a concentration in consulting psychology, (organizational development), from John F. Kennedy University. From 2011-2015, Paula took business courses at Stanford University.
In the past, these skills have been ridiculed, marginalized and thought of as unnecessary soft skills. They are the exact opposite. These are the skills necessary to create a strong, adaptable business organization with effective working relationships based on a solid sense of community in the work culture. In actuality, these “soft skills” are not easy and their complexity makes them hard to acquire, learn and develop. Yet we have been honing these very powerful skills since we were little girls. It is worth mentioning the following impressive result of a 2016 survey of nearly 22,000 firms in 91 countries by the Pearson Institute for International Economics. The survey found that the profitable firms that went from having no female leaders to a 30 percent representation gained a 15 percent increase in their financial position. 42
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SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT ISSUE NETWORK for Success By Nancy Karas Summer parties make great networking opportunities. Relaxed and festive, they’re ideal for stepping forward and shining. Identify people you'd like to meet. Find out about them in advance. Use this information to break the ice and make authentic connections. Don’t whip out your product, sales pitch or brochure. Create bonds and build trust, paving the way for solid relationships.
Follow Up. Smart networking means following up to maintain new connections. Gather others’ business cards rather than handing yours out. Make notes on the back and send emails to further connect with them within a day or two. Alcohol. It can mean ruin. Stick with sparkling water or one drink only. Reputations and careers can implode "under the influence." Make meaningful connections this summer to further your business goals! A transition coach and career management strategist for people ready to live the life they’ve always dreamed of living, Nancy’s expert advice and insights are featured in The Wall Street Journal, INC., Money Magazine, GlassDoor.com, Monster.com and The Salt Lake City Tribune. Nancy is also a career expert for KTLA News and iHeart Radio. A human resources thought leader and popular guest speaker, she focuses on personal empowerment and career success for her clients. Happy fans and customers have called her “the career whisperer” and “my Sacagawea,” and one organization called her “the career coach to watch in 2016.”
You can destroy your career or give it a boost. Here’s how to get noticed for the right reasons: The approach. Get up and mingle! Smile and shake hands firmly. This demonstrates you are comfortable interacting with others. Find a common bond. If the person serves on the board of directors of a not-for-profit organization, express your interest in the organization—and perhaps in volunteering. Be prepared. Focus on the other person, rather than on yourself. Don’t come on too strong, but prepare a two-minute pitch about yourself and your business, just in case you are asked. Meet the movers and shakers. Choose successful decision makers, those who make things happen—and from whom you can learn. Find a way to help. Be perceived as a resource. Act as a networking referral or information source. It's easier to ask for help from people who already appreciate your help. Dress for success. Dress to represent who you are in your business. Avoid wild or revealing attire. You will do your best networking when you feel well-dressed. 44
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SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT ISSUE HACK YOUR IDEAS in Half the Time By Tobey Allen Inspiration for business success can come from unexpected places. Here are five tips to unleash your creativity: 1. Start an inspiration file. Collect your good ideas into one file. Look to Pinterest or Tumblr for inspiration. You can also create a swatch board of ideas by posting examples of other artists, writers, designers or products that inspire you for when you need them.
5. Idea chain. Write two related words and leave a blank between them. Take the first word and write down the next idea that comes to mind. Keep generating related words for each subsequent word until you reach the last idea you originally came up with. For example, ‘build’ and ‘simplify’ could be ‘bridges’ and ‘routine.’ Try your hand at some of these tips and discover new ways to create success. May you transform your vision into seeds of possibilities! Tobey Allen, co-author of Catch Your Star, is an art therapist and seeds of possibilities coach™. She specializes in connecting people with their creative gifts and life purpose. She has incredible insight in coming up with ideas and finding creative solutions for businesses. For further details, please visit www.seedsofpossibilitiescoaching.com.
2. Smash or trash? Too worried about perfection in writing your ideas? Let your ideas flow. Comedian Steve Allen once gave advice about writing. He said,“Writeforthegarbagecan.”Allowyourgreatideastoflowontothepaper unedited. Often, what you write are the most innovative solutions and ideas. 3. Stop doing the same things. Albert Einstein reportedly said, “If you do what you always did, you will get what you always got.” Stop what you are doing and change course. Try a different route, write with your nondominant hand, learn a new language, work backwards or try new foods. 4. Find an alternative. Take an ordinary object and write down as many uses for it as you can. A book can be used as a doorstop, a furniture leg or a booster seat. An old compact disk can be transformed into a coaster, a tree ornament or a mobile. What are some other uses for familiar object
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Learn how to think creatively and infuse into profitability I help you brainstorm and find innovative solutions and go from possibility to profitability!
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SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT ISSUE PLANNING AN EFFICIENT Internet Marketing Strategy-Part 1 By Diana Morgan Without precisely clear goals and objectives, your marketing campaign will not bring you the results you desire. How will you know if and how effective (or unsuccessful) your campaign was if you do not establish precise objectives you can measure? If you want to have a captivating campaign, you must think about how you will determine its success. Bear in mind that approaches to your marketing goals should not be restricted to only one channel. Social media marketing, pay-per-click (PPC) and search engine optimization (SEO) should be considered in your collective approach to help you take full advantage of the possibilities that are out there. Here is a framework of the basic steps with some examples you can utilize in order to start preparing your Internet marketing campaign:
achieve it? Will you do it internally or will you outsource it? Tentative – Does your objective have a time frame? You need to include the time frame in your campaign. Example Objective: • I want to gain 1,000 Facebook fans by the end of the month. •
Follow these basic steps to get started on a successful marketing campaign. Learn how to get more clients in Part 2! Diana Morgan, business and marketing coach, author and speaker, is passionate about teaching, inspiring and empowering entrepreneurs to grow their businesses. She specializes in online and offline strategies; showing you how to apply them to your business to get results. Diana has over 20 years of successful business and marketing experience, building 2 of her own businesses using the strategies she offers her clients. She understands the struggles and challenges of building an effective, authentic online presence and has the patience and know-how to help you. She offers live and virtual trainings, and "done for you" internet marketing services. www.wholeheartmarketing.com
1. Determine Your Goals What do you want to accomplish with your marketing campaign? What are the more senior goals you are striving to achieve? Your marketing objectives can concentrate on long or short term. Example Goals: • Launch our brand on social media. • Set up our website’s visibility. 2. Develop Precise Objectives for Each Goal You will likely have several objectives for each goal. To be effective, you have to make certain you formulate SMART objectives: • Specific – Determine precisely what your objective is. • Measurable – Make sure the objective is quantifiable. • Achievable – Is the objective realistic and can you reach it? • Reasonable – Are the prospects realistic? Do you have the means to 48
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SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT ISSUE ARE YOU THE CEO of Your Business? By Laurie Zerga You have probably heard that eight out of ten businesses fail in the first two years. Most people guess the reason is money. It sometimes is. There are other explanations too. The market changes, suppliers fail and complicated regulations make it challenging to run a profitable business. According to a recent Gallup study, one cause rarely mentioned is entrepreneurs. This means the business owner is an important key to success.
you further by stepping into them fully? Big corporations call this your “core competencies.” Next, consider the edges of learning. Who do you need to become to step into the CEO role at the next level? Will training or a coach support your growth? The answers identify actions. The CEO makes decisions and gives direction. Each day, consider what action to take to move closer to your dream business and ideal profit. Tap into the CEO hiding inside. She knows the right action to success. Laurie Zerga, founder of Feminine Power Flow, combines passion for relationships, community and business to support women entrepreneurs. She successfully navigates many roles society mandates of women. While raising two daughters, she climbed to an officer position at a Fortune 500 company. Since 911, she transitioned from consultant to entrepreneur, launching Chef-K® nationally. Now she helps women reclaim their true self and feminine power to lead their dream business life through coaching programs, speaking and workshops.
If you are like many entrepreneurs, you left a job to start a business, to be independent. However, it’s easy to become a slave or a worker bee in your own business. The business runs you instead of you running the business. An entrepreneur wears many hats. She can name these business hats or roles rapidly. She is the bookkeeper, the sales person, the marketing guru, the assistant, the janitor and even the mail clerk. Yet she forgets to mention and put on the most important hat: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the leader. You can develop success from the inside out by considering your role as the CEO. First, envision your dream business as it integrates into your whole life. Then, ask yourself what skills support the role of CEO of your dream business. What qualities, talents and skills do you already have that will take 50
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