Creating a life of significance is at the core of the ConsciousPreneur. In this issue, you will read about Jim Hardwick and his journey toward creating a life of significance. You can also hear more of his story in my podcast interview with him.
What is a life of significance, and why does it feel so elusive?
I believe that a life of significance is equivalent to Martin Sieglman’s definition of flourishing, “To flourish is to find fulfillment in our lives, accomplishing meaningful and worthwhile tasks, connecting with others at a deeper level; in essence, living the good life”. Does this definition resonate with how you would define a life of significance?
While the definition is simple, creating a life of significance can often feel like it is something that is accessible for others, but is probably out of reach for us. So, we settle for just creating a life and hope for the best.
look at how to define a life of significance. The Four Inherent Values are:
Artha: the security of material comforts Kama: about pleasure; anything that brings a sense of delight to your life Dharma: which means truth, the right way of living Miksha: Our true nature; when the first three have been satisfied.
When we experience our true nature, we experience:
The removal of obstacles to an unrestricted life
We have access to our full human potential of creativity, compassion, and understanding
This is what it means to flourish.
Therefore, from the time we are little children, we are expected to demonstrate unwavering work ethic above all else.
This narrow focus on financial and physical comfort keeps us focused on producing work and being busy. Most often, we do not define what will satisfy our financial or material needs. Thus, we conclude that no matter how much money or material things we acquire, there is never enough. This means that we can’t rest, and we don’t make enough time for our most important relationships.
Deepak Chopra’s 4 Inherent Values of the universe can help us take a closer
Deepak Chopra’s 4 Inherent Values of the universe can help us take a closer
Our conditioned experience encourages us to first focus on Artha, so that we are financially secure and our material needs are satisfied. We’ve been taught that when we satisfy this value, we will be happy.
To escape this neverending nature of work, we tell ourselves that we deserve to have a little fun. We use activities that bring us pleasure as a compensation or reward for our persistent hard work. The problem with this is that we are using this value to compensate rather than to fully embrace an experience of awe, delight and sensuality as its own value. So while the activity may bring us momentary relief, we do not realize the full benefit of the
The one thing that humans can’t tolerate isn’t poverty, but a meaningless life.
-Deepak Chopra
experience.
In Jim’s story, you will hear him describe his experience with the nature of these four values and how they collided to create his life of significance. From the outside, his achievements may look like he just ‘got lucky’ or stumbled into this life. When you listen closer, you’ll notice the little invitations that he recognized and accepted along the way, as well as the people and resources that he tapped into to make his inspiration a reality. He didn’t create his life of significance all by himself.
What resources are you tapping into to create your life of significance? Who are the people on this journey to significance with you? One resource full of supportive people who strive to connect, engage and share is The ConsciousPreneur group on LinkedIn. I encourage you to join.
I encourage you to join.
If you’d like more individual support, reach out to me and let’s talk.
Creating A Life of Significance with Deepak Chopra
21 24
In Persuit of Creating A Life of Significance by Jim Hardwick Conscious Business Matters by Royce Amy Morales
17 5
Optimizing Cash Flow Is Crucial To All Women Business Owners by Jenevieve Lenz
33
From Wannapreneur to Entrepeneur by Campbell Rapin
How Can I “BE” An Authentic, Conscious Speaker by Tina Bakehouse
Kindly Read This Article by Nancy Zare Are You Really A Consciouspreneur? by Leon VanderPol The Solution To Your Profit Equation by Christina Springstead
The person In The Mirror Is Also My Solution by Sarah Freeman
by Jim Hardwick
When you live your life in the act of service, each person you meet is an opportunity to serve.
-Jim Hardwick
“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” -Mark Twain
Having spent 36 years of my life I know what it means to suffer through the ups and downs of corporate America. Experiencing the “Sunday Blues” that hit every Sunday evening because you realize in just a short amount of time the grind starts all over again. Why do we continue to let this happen? Why don’t we figure out our “Why” and
create a Life of Significance?
My name is Jim Hardwick and I spent ten years looking for how I can create a Life of Significance. In 2018 my wife, Jody, and I went on a safari in Kenya. We were excited to go but this was only because a friend had said her recent trip was a trip of a lifetime and we figured that this would be a one and done and check the box.
What we didn’t expect is that this trip would change our lives, purpose and answer my “Why”. While we were in Kenya, we toured a school and a medical clinic. The clinic is a small cinder block building with two rooms. Inside are a couple of tables and a few chairs. There are very little supplies.
Standing right outside the clinic door I asked our Masai guide, Derek, if they ever bring dental teams to this area? He said, “No”. I then asked him if there was a need? Derek then said, “Well, I have a cavity right here” as he pointed to one of his back molars. Why dental? Jody is a dental hygienist and so I understand how important dental care is and without access to it a person can really suffer.
It was at that moment I knew I wanted to bring a dental team back to Kenya and help the Masai people. The Masai are among the best known
game parks and their distinctive customs and dress. When we got back to our tent that evening, I asked Jody if she would come alongside me to bring a dental team to Kenya. This was a pivotal question because if she says no, then I am out. I don’t do dental work! She said, “Yes”.
Ten months later, 2019, we brought a team of 8 people back to Kenya along with all the supplies and equipment to accomplish four days of clinic. During this first trip we treated 191 patients. Our most recent trip was February, and 261 patients were treated and approximately 1,000 procedures were performed.
I share this story because the decision to bring a dental team to Kenya has changed my life. I live my life with intention. That was not
“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you nd out why.”
-Mark Twain
so shall you give As you receive!
strive to
something I act on it. Just like going to Kenya. In the past I would have had this thought and then come home. Five years later I might have remembered thinking it would have been nice to bring a dental team to Kenya. Now when I think of something I act on it. It could be calling a friend I haven’t connected with for some time. Their name comes to mind, and I pick on the phone and make the call. There always seems to be a reason this happens, and it makes an impact when you act.
I am a Sales Consultant and I take my servant’s heart into every engagement with a client. Having spent 36 years taking and winning at all costs I have flipped that mindset upside down. I now ask how can I be of service to you? With this new attitude I am having the most fun in my life. I get excited to wakeup on Monday mornings because I know that I have the chance to serve
The truth is I am working as hard as I have ever worked. The difference is I am loving it. When you find your passion, it is no longer work. Many of my friends are starting to retire and I feel like I am just getting started.
I have people say to me that they respect what I do but they can’t go to another country and serve people like I do in Kenya. I explain to them that they are missing the point. You can serve others right in your neighbor. Bring the trash cans in for your elderly neighbors. Lend a listening ear to someone that needs to be heard. When you live your life in the act of service each person you meet is an opportunity to serve.
I continue to build and create my Life of Significance. One thing you will experience is that when you make a difference in someone’s life the reward comes back to you ten-fold.
“When I think of something I act on it”
-Jim Hardwick
Winston Churchill said, “You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give”.
I believe most people want to live a life of significance. However, so many people get caught up in striving for success and in the process forget the impact of paying it forward. Our physical survival is based upon the in and out breaththe giving and the receiving. We can’t live without one or the other. It is a magnificent system of reciprocity upon which every single creature on this planet depends.
It stands to reason that the same is true of how we show up in the world for the people we meet. As you give, so shall you receive! When you make a difference in someone’s life the internal rewards are so satisfying. It doesn’t have to be about money. My internal
rewards are the satisfaction of knowing I made a difference. The emotions of seeing a life changed forever.
In business, when we serve others the professional and personal gains are very real. Your employees want to make a difference in their community and the world. Today 56% of the workforce is made up of millennials. If your company is not making a difference, they will leave for a company that is. I love their altruistic attitude. By serving your employees and your customers your business will be seen as an organization that is most concerned about doing what is right. This is the type of company customers want to work with and buy from. This is the type of company where employees want to work.
Jim Hardwick has been in Sales Leadership for many years. From his many experiences he is now sharing his insights on how impactful it is to be of service to others.
Jim would love to connect with you. Feel free to call him at (623) 451-1008 or email him at jhardwick@salesxceleration.com.
One thing you will experience is that when you make a di erence in someone’s life the reward comes back to you ten-fold
By Royce Amy Morales
Perhaps it was birthed from an inner awakening of some kind. Possibly an intuitive tug, a lucid dream or a meditative vision led the way. Maybe it arrived out of concern for the planet and humanity, springing from a conscientious, responsible, bigger picture choice.
You feel proud that your company doesn’t fit a standard business model or a conventional mold. To you, the inner experience that spurred your direction feels more real than any framed degree or professional license.
As a conscious entrepreneur, you know you are doing something meaningful and important. Your focus goes beyond profit margins and competition battles. Your commitment to integrity and transparency is a proud part of your Mission Statement.
Daring to mindfully follow your awakened consciousness is beyond commendable, especially in business. However, no matter how long you have been at it, you probably have unique issues to address. Listening to your heart rather than just your head can manifest some interesting challenges in this left-brained sloping world.
Like, what happens when trying to explain following your inner path to secure a business loan? Or when you request credit from a new vendor by assuring them to just trust? Or instructing employees to be openhearted and present? The list could go on.
Looking around, there is still quite a long way to go to awaken the business world.
Unless you happen to be dealing with equally conscious lenders, vendors and employees, your attempts may fall short of evidentiary business credentials and inspire nothing but confusion. Humanity is slowly shifting, waking up from the daze of ignorance and denial we have been in. With endless access to information, there are no excuses for changing how we have always seen and done things. The fights against inequality, animal cruelty, climate change, wars, human rights continue forward.
The business world is not immune to these transformations. In fact, as people shift their priorities and understand the importance of thinking globally, businesses must comply or be left in the dust.
If you are reading this, undoubtedly your busi
ness is rooted in consciousness.
That makes it even more important to stay the course, remaining true to your heart no matter the challenges.
There are several recognized definitions of being a conscious human: Letting go of ego-feeding motivation; feeling a connection with all others as well as the universe; transcending to an observational or witness place; knowing you are a spirit experiencing physical existence; and finding a deeper meaning in all of life.
An awakened consciousness means you are personally experiencing those qualities. That means, being authentic rather than fake, coming from your heart rather than intellectualizing.
The tricky part is integrating those heartfelt qualities in running a business. Being in a conscious place while simultaneously trying to be successful, make money and pay the bills can feel like quite a contradiction, maybe almost impossible. Especially when so many do not understand why you are doing what you are doing and are not supportive, to say the least.
Keep in mind, everything boils down to your true intention. Like knowing that your motives in having this business are pure rather than trying to prove something, make someone wrong or acquire fame. Or selling things, yet not promoting them as the source of happiness and inner peace. Or coming from truly wanting to assist, support, transform or awaken others.
As someone who is committed to an awakened life business path, here are important things to recognize:
Life unfolds consciousness. As a person who has experienced an awakening of some kind, every day presents an opportunity to use your business as part of your inner journey process. Learn the many universal lessons your business provides such as: Trusting and going with the flow; shifting your mindset to possibility thinking; not succumbing to temptation to relinquish your integrity; not being concerned with the opinions of others; trusting the wisdom of your intuition, etc.
Being authentic. No matter what the world or society tells you to be, you are being who you truly are. Not allowing peer pressure and ideas of success sway you from your truth and your purpose.
Non-attachment. Trusting the evolution of your business, letting go
of the fear-based need that it looks a certain way. That may also include supporting customers to not make purchases as ways to define them, discouraging attachment to physical possessions.
Coming from self-acceptance. It’s one thing to know what you want in your business, another to accept yourself fully. That means not judging your weaknesses and appreciating your unique strengths and talents.
Feeling purposeful. Because of the lofty goals of your business, you might feel the weight of the world on your shoulders. That may elicit sadness, guilt, and ongoing heaviness. As a conscious being, know you can handle anything that is presented to you. Also know that you are doing all you can, so trust the process.
Inner growth. Allow yourself to be open to things you have never tried, especially what will allow more inner growth. This journey presents constant opportunities to realize more about yourself, others and life. It is helping you see the world with new eyes. Encourage others to have
Allow yourself to be open to things you have never tried
-Royce Amy Morales
meaningful life experiences and their own conscious awakenings.
Your changing belief system. As you evolve in business, you may discover that you know less than you thought. This might be frightening to admit since you are supposed to be “the expert.” Learn to go past your comfort zone and trust your inner wisdom rather than only relying on facts and figures. Remember: The acronym for fear is Face Everything And Rise.
Inner Approval. You know that approval needs to come from within, but in business it is all too easy to define financial success as evidence of being approved of. Notice that profound trigger, especially if your business isn’t bringing in the accolades you hope for. Your challenge is knowing you are enough no matter what.
In sync with the world. As a conscious business owner, you might be experiencing meaningful coincidences and events that bring pause. Notice and honor them. They are evidence of your connection to the
world. It may feel odd at first, but eventually it becomes a normal way of life. Trust the signs and illogical pulls, knowing they are lovingly supporting and directing your journey.
Compassion expands. Being a conscious entrepreneur enables you to feel more attuned to others. This shared energetic connection brings more compassion, empathy and a willingness to relate beyond business-level acquaintances. Allow for that even though you may have heard warnings against mixing business with personal life.
Aliveness happens. Because you come from clarity of purpose, work feels meaningful, you feel alive. Fear may still show up, but it is transcendent since trust counteracts it. Joy is a more permanent state since you are not trying to grasp it from external places. Sometimes this empowered state might trigger others and make them uncomfortable. Love them anyway.
Take action. As one who has found your true self, involvement in social causes or global movements may also be a priority. You desire to do even more for the planet, and rather than just thinking about it, you take empowered action to create even more change.
Whatever inspired you to create your business, you did so by tapping into and trusting your inner power. Remember how strong you are. Know that this friendly universe is supporting you; your inner wisdom is leading the way.
Keep challenging yourself, stay committed to your truth and trust that life is working through you in palpable, deserving ways.
To
associates, clients, and colleagues, it looks like Financial Growth Partners advisor, Jenevieve Lenz never stops moving, and never slows down. In her career, she specializes in financial planning, but she also lives a very full life. When she's not taking care of her family, volunteering at church, or Girls on the Run, she is working with local community groups to help other women and business owners with what matters to them most. As a third generation entrepreneur, she knows how to address the unique needs of women business owners and professionals.
Some of the most frequent questions she hears are about keeping or protecting the hard-earned cash her clients are earning. Things like, “How do I keep more of what I make and pay less taxes?” and “How can I save more for retirement?” are common questions.
Discussing what happens to your earned income and where it goes is crucial to making strides toward your goals. Jenevieve routinely addresses the concern of cash flow and helps clients understand and prepare for retirement dangers including how taxes, inflation, market volatility, healthcare, not saving enough and various life events affect your financial future.
Then ask yourself these questions:
Does my income and budget allow me to cover all needs and expenses?
Do I have excess at the end of each month?
How much can I increase my savings and still live comfortably each month?
When was the last time I spoke to a professional about the places I am investing my savings?
To start, you need to list your sources of income. Where is your money coming from? Your regular wages are most likely your primary source of income. But don't forget to add in other sources such as bonuses, gifts, income from rental property, interest or investment income, government checks or any other source.
Am I doing everything I can to improve cash flow by increasing after tax returns? (this is usually never done by oneself and in tandem with an advisor who is trained in this area of investing)
Lastly, does my plan work now and in the future?
There are several key concepts to “cash flow and where to put your money.”
tion of your professionals, especially your CPA and advisor to be safeguarded from volatility, the effect of rising healthcare expenses, and the inevitability of rising taxes. Living longer puts stress on one's savings.
While it's important to save, it's even more important to pay off non-deductible, high-interest debt, like your credit card balance, as fast as possible. Using some of your savings to pay off this kind of debt can actually be the most cost-effective way to help you spend less over time.
Good debt should ideally be in low amounts, low cost, help you achieve your financial goals, and have potential tax advantages. Here are two examples:
With mortgages, interest rates are low compared to other types of consumer debt, and owning your own home can help you build wealth over time as well as improve your quality of life. Mortgage interest is oftentimes deductible. If you use a home equity line of credit or HELOC, as they are commonly called, for home improvement, you may still be able to deduct the interest if the money is used for improving your residence. As always, be sure to check with your tax advisor.
With student loans, rates are comparatively low, and interest can be tax-deductible, depending on your income. Benefits include enhanced career opportunities, which may increase your earning potential in the long run.
It’s important to find the right coach, financial professional or other advisor that will help you to think big and plan big.
It’s also extremely important that you set realistic money goals. Here are three top tips to help you build wealth.
Budgeting is one of the top financial goals people set each new year. It’s also the foundation you should build all other money goals on.
Many women have the goal of “I want to spend less” or “I want to save more” without thinking about what it means to actually do those things. If you never thought about it before, I urge you to get intentional about your money. Budget every month, find deals, pay cash, don’t eat out more than once per week. Learning how to say no and watching your savings can all add up.
Life happens. But you can be prepared for any money problems that come your way if you’ve got savings. We’ve all experienced unforeseen car repair bills, leaking roofs or medical expenses. But when you’ve got an emergency fund, you can rest well at night knowing you have savings to back you up.
Finding a financial coach or planner that can help you with your goal setting as well as getting on the right path to saving is important. They can provide the necessary insight and investment expertise that become key as your family or business grows. It’s best to take the time to interview different advisors. The right financial planner can help by discussing your lifestyle goals and putting a plan of action in place to get you there.
Having financial goals will help you
It takes a lot of planning and oftentimes carefully collabora-
2. Build an emergency fund.
3. Spend less and save more.
Too often, women have a scarcity mindset.
change your mindset, your habits and your life. When you’re intentional with every dollar you have, every dollar will stretch further. That means you get to do more of the things you want to do and plan for those additional life experiences you’ll do in the future.
If you want to do more than you ever thought possible, go on and set some goals. Make sure the goals you set are measurable and establish an outline to reach them. By deciding what you want your future to look like, you can figure out what you need to do today to make it happen.
Advisors like Jenevieve not only enjoy the financial planning aspect, but they enjoy creating “life plans” as well. Make it a goal to start or improve your plan today.
Financial planning expert and FGP advisor, Jenevieve Lenz offers education and cash flow expertise along with professional resources to support women in business to improve their financial future. In addition to her work as a financial advisor with Financial Growth Partners, Jenevieve dedicates time to educating the next generation of female entrepreneurs and business professionals. She has shared her financial expertise through lectures to audiences including George Mason University students, Reston Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Women Business Owners, and other organizations.
More info about Jenevieve Lenz and Financial Growth Partners can be found at: https://www.yourfgp.com/jenevieve-lenz .
Do you ever feel like you should be making more money in your business than you actually are?
That you think you are doing all the right things and yet the numbers don’t lie: your expenses regularly exceed your revenue. You are not seeing consistent client growth and equally important clients that value and will pay for your services at the rates you believe your services are worth.
It is a scary place to be in, as it can lead you to question whether you have what it takes to be in business for yourself or if you should give up on your dreams of business ownership.
The truth is, that without a steady stream of client growth, you may have an expensive hobby and not a viable business.
If you are standing at that crossroads between being a Wannapreneur or an Entrepreneur, you have a choice to make.
Stay the course and run the risk of going bankrupt, or adjust your strategy to turn things around.
Too many businesses fail to create demand for their services. They simply subscribe to the Kevin Costner “Field of Dreams” business strategy. You know the one – if I build it, they will come - except they haven’t come and you have a field of crickets instead of a steady flow of new paying clients.
So, as someone who has mentored and coached over 400 service-based businesses in 5 countries, let me share with you the inside track to how to create consistent client growth.
First off, let me myth-bust some common misconceptions. Consistent client growth is not achieved by:
Joining dozens of Facebook groups for the sole purpose of promoting your business. These groups are filled with other struggling business owners who also only joined the group to promote their own business , and therefore; they are likely NOT your ideal client.
Downloading free resources or attending free challenges thinking that you can simply implement the topline info shared to start experiencing $10k months in 30 days.
Trying to sell to everyone you meet and vomiting your business to anyone who will listen.
These actions are damaging your reputation and credibility in the
You need to have an intentional strategy to meet more people, more ways and more often.
-Christine Campbell Rapin
marketplace which are the 2 most valuable assets you own as business owner so if you are doing these, please stop immediately.
Consistent client growth is achieved by focusing on 3 simple non-negotiables:
Understand that the long-term success of your business will be built on strangers. You need to have an intentional strategy to meet more people, more ways and more often. A LOT more people than you are currently meeting. I advise my clients to spend 50-70% of their time on this core foundation in order to see consistent client growth with a goal of 1,000 new connections every month. Equally important is that it is not just new people you need to connect with. Always remember to nurture existing relationships as well as strong relationships propel the speed at which new clients join your business.
Understand that not everyone is your client. You need to be able to
identify, attract and connect with a very select group of people: your “yes” clients. These “yes” clients are those that both WANT and NEED what you offer and view you as a credible messenger and someone they can trust to help them bridge the gap from where they are to where they want to go. Core to the success of this non-negotiable is storytelling and learning to spark curiosity. This can be achieved by focusing on 3 core elements:
Being able to communicate your “why story.”
Having a deep understanding of your “yes” client's problem and what this problem is costing them. You need to be able to enter into the conversations happening inside their head and help them to feel seen and understood.
Being crystal clear on why you are uniquely positioned to be the right guide to help your “yes” client move from problem to their desired outcome.
Note that you are not the solution, rather the bridge or footprints in the
sand for your “yes” client to make their own journey through the darkness and into the light by following a path you have set out for them to follow.
Understand that the number 1 strategy that will drive consistent client growth is not your website or a fancy funnel. The most effective strategy to grow a thriving business with consistent client growth is through conversation, so build an intentional strategy that creates them. It is through conversation that we establish likeability, credibility and connection so focus on building rich relationships. The best analogy to keep in mind when having conversations with both potential collaborative partners and potential “yes” clients is to approach them as you would a romantic relationship. Take your time getting to know each other, look for common ground, share stories and if (and only if) appropriate take the conversation deeper, don’t jump from first date to a marriage proposal.
Focusing on these 3 non-negotiables has 3 immediate benefits when it
You need to be able to identify, attract and connect with a very select group of people: your “yes” clients.
-Christine Campbell Rapincomes to achieving consistent client growth:
You will make better use of your time by being able to invest time with more potential “yes” clients and limit the time drain on those that will be nos.
Increase the conversion rate when offers are made to “yes” clients as they have already self-identified themselves as someone who values what you are offering and knows, likes and trusts you to be their guide. There is less negotiation on price and terms of service with people you have an established relationship with
meaning easier sales calls and predictable profits.
Success in business is simple when you know the right things to focus on.
If you are curious about how I can help you build an intentional organic strategy that leads to consistent client growth in your business, let’s have that conversation. You can reach me at hello@christinecampbellrapin.com.
Social psychologist, author, and TEDx speaker Brene Brown is one of the most authentic speakers and conscious entrepreneurs I know.
Her TED talks on vulnerability and shame have more than 22 million views.
She notes a time when she was scheduled to speak for high-level professionals.
Moments before speaking, Brown changed from a traditional dark dress pants and professional blazer to a skirt and clogs. Immediately, she felt at ease because even though there was an expectation to dress a certain way, she eschewed this common practice and wore what was comfortable for her. This simple choice allowed her to be the self she was, presenting, connecting, and “being,” earning her the highest marks of all the presentations that day. The audience fully connected with “who” she was, her authentic self.
How can you master public speaking as an authentic conscious leader? As a conscious entrepreneur?
Ryan Smerek, Ph.D defines authenticity as being the “congruence between our deeper values and beliefs and actions.”
To be an “authentic speaker,” communication coach Emma Serlin says it’s “making the listener see what it is that you see and feel what you feel…speaking about a topic you are passionate about, your body will engage, your eyes will brighten, and your voice will be powered by your breath.”
Being driven by purpose and caring deeply for reaching your audience requires mastering three dimensions of public speaking.
Dimension 1: Develop an Authentic Speaker Mindset
To be authentic and magnetic, self-monitor where you are: conditioned self-versus authentic self. If you can label your feelings, you’ll be more self-aware. Make sure your head and heart are aligned.
Holistic Business Coach and psychotherapist, Shelley Riutta says, “It’s all about the alignment of the soul rather than a performance; cultivate the inside of you and the outside will follow.”
Align your speaking topic with your heart and shift your mindset to increase your confidence.
How will you be the authentic, conscious leader and speaker that you are?
Mindset 1: Shift from “I’m not a public speaker” to “I am an authentic speaker.”
Communication strategist John Capeci says, “All of us are natural born orators of our own lives.” As children, we shared stories, even asked questions without formal training. Growing into your magnetic style, acknowledging you are a speaker takes practice and effort.
Mindset 2: Shift from “No one will listen to me” to “I’ll find the right audience.”
Select a passion topic.
Target the right audience. Ask yourself: Who needs to hear my message? What’s my desired outcome? If you’re trying to communicate with everyone, no one will listen.
Care deeply about your listeners. If
your audience doesn’t feel you care about them, they will tune you out.
Mindset 3: Shift from “I’m not good enough” to “I have value and am enough.”
Unfortunately, we compare ourselves to others.
Brene Brown said, “We live in a culture of never enough…At some point, we just need to say ‘enough’: I am enough.”
By focusing on who you are and you’re enoughness, you’ll share natural energy, thoughtful content to your audience, and make the impact you desire.
Dimension 2: Embody Purposeful Presence and Energy
Let your passion for your topic lead the communication. Be clear with
your energy. Is your presentation energy quiet like water or loud like fire?
Water energy is receptive, calm, and open.
Fire energy is active, full of enthusiasm, and excitement.
It’s important to balance these two energies, for to draw in an audience, you need to texture your talk.
Think of water energy as one you use when: Softening the message Sharing a heartfelt story Adding contrast to your presentation
Facilitating Q and A following your Speech to turn over control of the Conversation to your audience.
Think of fire energy as bigger and louder with your voice and body language.
This energy is more appropriate to: hook audience engagement and get them excited about your topic break up your main points with a stimulating rhetorical question
Target the right audience. Ask yourself: Who needs to hear my message?
-Tina Bakehouse
attract your audience at the end with an exciting call to action.
When determining what type of energy to use, ask yourself these questions prior to presenting:
What does the speaking occasion require?
What’s appropriate for the given context?
What does the audience need from me?
Tune into the space, the context and purpose, the audience, then modify your energy, for the audience will mirror you.
Dimension 3: Master Audience-Centered Speaking
To be an authentic speaker, engage your audience with a variety of strategies, speaking to different
learning styles: audible, visual, kinesthetic.
Audible strategy: Color your presentations with stories, for stories resonate and have staying power.
Tell about the first time you walked into a new job and how it felt Your best moment in sports The hardest experience you overcame
Visual strategy: Paint your presentations with verbal and visual imagery. Use vivid examples like the tang of your grandmother’s Thanksgiving cranberry sauce or the sweet cherry blossoms wafting through the farm, or the rough tree bark against your skin or show powerful pictures on screen to grab your audience’s attention.
Kinesthetic strategy: Ask your audience to participate in your talk. Have them respond to your presentation by moving, standing, raising their hands, or even turning and communicating with a partner.
Come with the intention to be audience-centered, for every communication should be a co-creation between the speaker and audience.
Embrace and use clear, appealing content for each message. As communication scholar David Zaresky says, “The most effective speakers keep their audience in the know.”
To be an authentic speaker, anchor in your confidence, commit to your vision, and share your message for the greater good.
Ask yourself, who am I being? What do I want to be known for? The audience doesn’t want anyone but you, the real you.
How will you be the authentic, conscious leader and speaker that you are?
What will you say? How will you behave?
How will you show up?
Be you, for everyone else is taken.
As a public speaking and storytelling coach, Tina Bakehouse (Tina B.) protects audiences from boring speeches through her 3-month signature group and individual communication coaching programs, team building webinars and workshops focusing on storytelling, temperament, and best communication practices. Tina B. lives on her 150-year farm with her husband Jon, son Anderson, and a beautiful goat herd she loves to share with clients.
-Emma Serlin
making the listener see what it is that you see and feel what you feel
F i g u r i n g o u t w h a t y o u R E A L L Y w a n t F a i l i n g t o a c t w i t h o u t a n e x t e r n a l n e e d B e l i e v i n g y o u ' r e w o r t h y o f t h e d e s i r e d r e s u l t L e t t i n g g o o f n e g a t i v e e x p e r i e n c e s i n y o u r p a s t
" B e f o r e w o r k i n g w i t h B l u e B a m b o o , I h a d a p a t t e r n o f h o l d i n g s o m e t h i n g b a c k i n p u r s u i t o f m y b u s i n e s s g o a l s W e w o u l d i d e n t i f y a b i g g o a l o r c r i t i c a l o b j e c t i v e , a n d e v e n w h i l e t r y i n g t o r a l l y m y t e a m , I f e l t l i k e I w a s t r y i n g t o c o n v i n c e m y s e l f i t w a s p o s s i b l e
U l t i m a t e l y , I c a m e t o u n d e r s t a n d h o w p a s t e x p e r i e n c e s i n m y l i f e w e r e c a u s i n g m e t o b e h a v e i n t h e p r e s e n t I w a s r u n n i n g m y l i f e w i t h ' o l d c o d e ' W h a t o n c e k e p t m e s a f e w a s n o w h o l d i n g m e b a c k
T h a n k s t o B l u e B a m b o o , I ' v e c o m e t o p e a c e w i t h t h e p a s t a n d a m f i n a l l y p u r s u i n g l i f e a t a m u c h h i g h e r l e v e l I h i g h l y r e c o m m e n d B B L e a d e r s h i p "
D A N S T E W A R T
Sue Elliott
Why you might want to stop doing things the way other people do them ... and start doing things
Best practices are “commercial or professional procedures that are accepted or prescribed as being correct or most effective,” according to the Oxford Dictionary. As far back as 1911, a management consultant named F.W. Taylor started looking for the “one best way” to increase efficiency in factories. By the 1970s, there were hordes of people discussing best practices for all kinds of work.
But there are some fundamental problems with the relentless pursuit of best practices. For starters, there isn’t just one correct—or most effective way—to do the things that need to get done in your business. Even if you have a business with lots of employees, there isn’t just one correct—or most effective way—for those employees to do a particular task.
It’s probably easiest to see what I mean if we look at a physical task like sweeping a floor. Clearly, a right handed person is going to sweep differently from a left handed person. A tall person might sweep differently—or require a different broom—than a short person. Some people might start at the edges of the room and sweep everything into the center before picking up the debris, while others might complete one section of the room at a time. And you can probably come up with plenty of other variations on ways to sweep a floor.
Is one of these ways right while the others are wrong? Not likely.
There’s another big problem with best practices: Most of the time, best practices feel like rules. And rules feel yucky.
Yucky is a technical term that the angels and I like to use when helping people navigate life. It’s effective because yucky and yummy are hard-wired into our physical bodies. If you’ve ever fed a toddler, you know exactly what I mean: Anything a toddler deems yucky gets spit out
immediately!
So, let’s take a moment and see how best practices feel to you. To keep it real, we’ll look at some “data-driven social media marketing best practices for 2022,”: Post diversified content
“data-driven social media marketing best practices for 2022,”
Have specific content strategies for each social network Conduct a social media audit Track on engagement data Analyze your hashtags Research your influencers (and the list goes on!)
OK. Now that you’ve read through that list, did it feel yummy or yucky?
For me, this list feels exceptionally yucky. It feels like a whole lot of “shoulds.” And it totally triggers my inner rebellious teenager. She takes one look at this list and says, “You can’t make me!” (complete with foot stomp, hair toss and eye roll). Once she gets that way, there’s a good chance I’ll self-sabotage, which is not what any of us are intending when we try to implement best practices!
Overall, for most of us, best practices wind up feeling rigid, like rules and regulations. Instead of remaining present and open to a field of infinite possibilities, best practices severely limit our choices. And that feels yucky.
Besides the unintended consequences of rule-making, there’s another huge problem with best practices: We keep looking outside ourselves—and our companies—to find them.
To return to our floor-sweeping example: If you’re a short leftie, do you really want someone to teach you the best way for tall righties to perform a task?
example: Let’s say a woman changes what she eats and how she exercises and, after a short time, she no longer has any symptoms of diabetes. Naturally, she’s thrilled! Perhaps her friends encourage her to share her “system” with the world so everybody can cure their diabetes. So, she starts an online course, and now she’s teaching other people exactly what to eat, along with how to follow her precise exercise routine.
There’s just one problem: Some people follow her program to a T, but they still have diabetes. And other people try as hard as they can to follow her program, but they just can’t do it.
When the program doesn’t work for these people, they may blame
building, different people). And it might not even work at that same Chicago factory a couple years from now.
What’s the Alternative to Best Practices?
The alternative is to find what works for you and your business, right here, right now. And hold that “practice” lightly, gently … like an awareness, not a rigid rule.
In fact, let’s keep the word “practice” and discard the word “best.” The word practice is perfect because your business is one of the most fertile environments in which you can apply your consciousness tools. Your work literally can become a daily consciousness/spiritual practice.
themselves for not doing it right … or not having enough willpower. Or they may blame the “expert” for being wrong. But those aren’t the actual problems.
The real problem is: We are each completely unique. So, what works for one body at one point in time may not work for any other body on the planet. And even what works for that one body may not keep working forever, because not only are we are each unique, but we each continue to change and evolve.
And it’s exactly the same in business: A best practice that works today at a factory in Chicago may not work for that same company’s factory in Phoenix (different climate, different
For instance, let’s say you’re trying to figure out how to do something new in your business. Here’s what you might do:
First, focus on how you are being before you take action. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, soothe yourself. If you’re feeling frustrated or upset, center yourself.
Once you’re centered, tune into your guidance. Gently hold an open-ended question in your awareness, like: What’s a yummy way to do this? You may receive a flash of inspiration, perhaps even a vision of exactly what to do. Or you might suddenly “think of” a particular person (who most likely just figured out how to do what you were
wondering about … or who does it every single day!).
Be intentional. Whatever you feel guided to do, choose the energy with which you’re going to do it first. So, if you feel inspired to do a search online for information, engage your curiosity before you search.
Notice how it feels. Once you start reading or listening to other people’s advice, notice if it feels yummy or yucky. If it’s yucky, it’s not wrong; it’s simply not for you.
You can use this simple practice for each of your daily tasks. Most of all, keep noticing how each activity feels. If something feels yucky, play with it:
Just because something worked for someone else doesn’t mean it’s going to work for you.
-Sue Elliott
See if you can find a different way to do it that feels lighter or yummier. And keep reminding yourself that what works for someone else might not work for you, since there’s no one right way to do anything!
These simple consciousness practices are far more effective than “best practices” because they enable you to do your work in the most YOU way possible. And THAT will enable your work to feel more and more like a gift and a contribution in your life!
Sue Elliott is a serial entrepreneur who has launched and led numerous newsstand magazines. She also launched and sold a PR agency, served as Chief Growth Officer for an education technology startup, and helped clients sell their products successfully through major retailers in the U.S.—among other things!
Sue has been on a divinely guided journey in this lifetime: being put in the right place at the right time, gathering the business skills and life experiences she needed to do the work she does today. She calls this work Angel Coaching, and it’s her own unique blend of life-and-business coaching, energy healing and delivering guidance from the Angels. She invites you to connect with her at www.MyAngelCoach.com.
The Person in the Mirror is also my Solution
The blessing and the curse of the 21st century is that we have options for who we want to be and what we want to do. The blessing is that options give us the freedom to choose what we want to spend our time doing and the significant difference we want to make.
However, the “curse” of having so many options to choose from is this: how do you know which option is right for you? If you have an idea of what the right one is, what guarantee is there that you will have an impact?
We live in a world that is full of information and short on wisdom. A world that gives us access to literally billions of people and in business, this can be intimidating. To be successful, there must be something that separates us from the rest of the thousands or billions of other
coaches, digital marketers, financial advisors, insurance agents - you fill in the blank. At any second, consumers are bombarded with ads and suddenly, a competitive advantage becomes crucial to make it in the marketplace. Not only do we have the challenge to be distinctive, but we must also offer something that we can be well known for, produces results, and is sustainable into the future.
There are so many “gurus” who are ready and waiting to influence or sell you on what they think you should do. “Follow your dreams. Follow your heart. Do what you're passionate about. Follow your instincts and have faith in yourself. Live your truth. Sign up for this program and you’ll be successful” -these are just a few of the endless messages we hear on social media, the internet, and in society. In the moment, these “messages” may seem to be the answer
-
direction we needed for our dreams to become reality, the promise that
these conflicting messages for how to do life and what direction to take for making a difference, we become more confused than when we started. The “messages” don’t match the reality of what we’re dealing with and we’re faced with feeling overwhelmed, lost, and disillusioned.
From this, we are left with what began as a spark or inspiration to help others by solving problems, creating an eco-friendlier product, or changing the world, has now fizzled into a wish or forgotten dream. That dreaded idea of abandoning your entrepreneurship life begins creeping in your mind as you are left with
Your values are the vehicle for identifying and ful lling your unique contribution in the world.
-Sarah Freeman
A problem that the C sciousPreneur experiences is finding the value within themselves and knowing what their unique contribution is to the world.
despair from your pursuit of your place in the business world.
So, what’s important about finding value within yourself, how does it relate to your unique contribution in the world, and what direction can be taken?
Values are the hardwiring within a person and are at the core of their belief system. Values shape an individual’s perception, define their identity, and explain why people do what they do. In other words, your values are your internal compass that will guide you through life and be the foundation for who you are. It’s hard to be passionate about something you don’t value or believe in. On the other hand, how easy is it to promote, learn, invest in, or advocate for something you do believe in?
There was a time in my life that I knew I wanted to help people, understand them better, and make a difference. Although I had followed the American dream and the advice from my parents, friends, and society, I was burned out, unfulfilled, and needed direction. It wasn’t until I understood what my values were, their role in how I viewed the world, and their connection to my purpose that my life became meaningful.
Suddenly, I became clear on who I was and the lifelong question of what my purpose was no longer haunted me!
Your values are the vehicle for identifying and fulfilling your unique contribution in the world. They define who you are, provide a strong indicator of what you believe in, are the reason for the decisions you make, and lead you to the outcome you create. Making choices that are in alignment with your values cultivates feelings of importance, self-respect, and fulfillment. Being in alignment with your values and beliefs provides the confidence and assurance that your matchless efforts make an impact.
A solution for seeing the value within yourself and knowing what your distinct contribution is boils down to self-discovery. Start with identifying your values and what this looks like for you – what drives your behaviors, what brings you fulfillment, what turns you on and what turns you off. For instance, maybe you value predictability and feel secure in an environment that has a proven system. Or, maybe you value excitement and thrive in adventure! Another possibility is that you value relationships and love to give by
encouraging others. You might value logic and researching solutions for increased efficiency sounds interesting.
Another solution is to become clear on your purpose by asking yourself a few questions: If money were no issue, what would I do? What is something that I am skilled in or have mastered? What was a time in my life that I was experiencing a problem that I needed help? What is something that I overcame and I know how to teach others to do?
A third solution is to connect with and hire a coach. The truth is, we aren’t likely to push ourselves as much as someone who is able to see the value within ourselves. In other words, you can’t see the picture if you’re in the frame and a coach is someone who will challenge us to be and do our best consistently. It is a sign of strength to seek and receive help to become the best version of ourselves. You are on someone’s vision board and they are waiting on you.
If this resonates with you, begin by discovering your values in 90 seconds or less and what it means for you: https://bit.ly/3zAIpqE
Sarah, known as The People Whisperer, is a Certified BANK Trainer and Coach who connects and empowers people by showing them the value within themselves and others. She trains and coaches leaders to connect and communicate with others in a way that they feel seen, heard, and understood. Leaders go on a 90-day journey to engage in self-discovery, learn how to communicate effectively, increase their emotional intelligence, gain better relationships, and increase sales up to 300%.
One of the first behaviors you learned as a child was to say “please” and “thank you.”
I suggest that the more courtesy you show others, the more you’ll benefit in terms of acquiring clients.
Selling is an exchange of energy. It relies on communication, and the most effective salespeople don't try to pitch a product or service at the outset. Instead, they focus on developing a relationship with potential clients. Top sales professionals understand that their customers have limited time and many options, and they work hard to provide a positive buying experience. This is the reason why being courteous and professional throughout the sales process can lead to increased earnings and repeat business.
In the first edition of ConsciousPreneur Magazine, I discussed a friendly approach to selling, called the Conversational Soft SellingTM System. Its three foundation pillars are: 1) asking for permission 2) speaking naturally without a script, and 3) adjusting your communication to match your prospect’s conversational style.
In this article, I examine the value of asking for permission and share the
famous “No to YES!” formula as featured in the book, No Pressure Selling co-authored with Mary Pekas. Courtesy generally entails being friendly and kind to the people you meet. A common starting point is response time. You can show people courtesy by being prompt for appointments and meetings (even early for certain Buyers), since many people take lateness as a sign of disrespect.
When in their presence, acknowledge them immediately. This sets the tone for positive communication. A warm,
friendly smile (yes, you can hear it on the phone as well as see it during conference calls) is essential. Listening with full attention speaks louder than any words you can utter.
Another way of being courteous is by asking permission. You might mistakenly think that you may be relinquishing control by handing over the reins of the conversation to other people. Won’t they withhold permission as a means of avoiding a conversation?
However, asking for permission goes a long way toward predisposing others to give you what you want.
-Nancy Zare
Of course, the person can say “no,” and when this happens, I’ll suggest what to say later in this article.
However, asking for permission goes a long way toward predisposing others to give you what you want. It puts into action the law of reciprocity: What you give, you receive. Asking for permission enables you to “Win Friends and Influence People,” as Dale Carnegie wrote.
Permission is one of the foundations of the Conversational Soft SellingTM System. When you ask for and have been given permission to communicate with decision makers, you are no longer afraid of annoying them. You no longer worry about interrupting them. In fact, you become a welcome onsultant to their business.
When the decision maker grants permission to call again or send a newsletter, receive an invitation to a presentation, or arrange an appointment, you can proceed with confidence and certainty. You become an expected, valued guest.
Asking for permission is as simple as
adding one word to your sentence, “Please.”
Another easy way is to use the phrase, “May I.”
A longer version is to say, “With your permission.”
Or you could go full out and ask, “With your permission may I.”
Now that you have the wording, you may be wondering when to seek permission.
I suggest that you do so at the beginning of a conversation and several times throughout. That includes when you generate leads, exchange contact information, arrange appointments, ask questions, present your services, discuss features and benefits, and invite prospects to work with you.
Asking permission can help you in separating prospects from leads. When someone voluntarily gives you permission to send them information, they are indicating a strong interest in your product or service as well as a willingness to engage more deeply.
decision maker if you are reaching them at a good time. This small gesture assures you that you are welcome to proceed with your marketing and sales efforts.
Another time to secure consent is before you ask questions or present the features and benefits of your service and products.
All this talk about getting permission: What if your prospect says “no?
It may surprise you to realize that “no” is the beginning of a relationship!
When someone says “no,” you have an opportunity to add them to your follow-up system where you can continue to reach out and build a stronger connection.
Regardless of whether you have asked permission to schedule an appointment, receive your newsletter, or buy your services, when the decision maker says, “no”, use this tried and true formula.
The NO Formula (Follow Up Formula)
1. Agree with the decision maker.
The more courtesy you show others, the more you’ll bene t in terms of acquiring clients.
-Nancy Zare
When you start the conversation by asking permission to talk, and it is granted, it creates a whole, new positive atmosphere for both parties. You remove the “ick'' factor and ensure that someone is expecting you to talk about your business and thus become more likely to welcome it. Now the individual is receptive to your communication, and you increase the potential of getting new business.
Before ending any conversation, you will want to get permission to reach out to them the next time. In essence, this is how you ensure follow-up.
When you keep follow-up appointments, always begin by asking the
2. Ask for permission for future contacts.
3. Offer an alternative.
In managing her call center for over 25 years, Mary Pekas and her staff used this formula thousands of times. They revised it until they found the exact words and delivered them with the right inflection and pauses so that more than 85% of prospects when asked for permission said “Yes” to receiving another contact in the future.
Here’s the exact language Mary used that worked so well.
Yes, the timing isn’t always right. However, as things have a way of changing, with your permission, may I touch base with you periodically? Using my knowledge of psychology
and human behavior, I have analyzed why this simple formula got such amazing results.
To begin, let’s examine the word “no”. Hearing “No” tends to make people respond defensively. Many people react to the word by wanting to argue and resist.
Instead of responding in this manner, when you agree with the prospect by saying, “yes,” it’s disarming. You’re affirming their decision. The stimulus to be on guard has been removed. Your prospect can relax.
Moreover, you provide a logical reason for accepting “no” by saying: “The timing isn’t always right.” Now the prospect feels heard, honored, and respected. You’re on the same page. As a result, your prospect’s stress level noticeably drops.
At this point, you insert the word, “However”. This signals a shift in direction. Because you’re in alignment, this change in direction is one that you and the prospect take together.
Again you provide a logical reason for making this shift by saying: “As things have a way of changing,” which your prospect most likely agrees is true. By offering this statement, it maintains your alliance with the decision maker and gives them grounds to hear your next idea.
Now you reward them for being open-minded by asking for permission by saying: “with your permission, may I,” which is one of the hallmarks of the Conversational Soft SellingTM System. Asking for permission puts decision makers in control, eliminates your coming across as being pushy and aggressive, and opens the door to your being a welcome guest.
Last, you politely ask to continue the relationship: “may I touch base with you periodically?” Because the language used is folksy, the request generic, and the time frame open-ended, the decision maker can easily give consent, which allows you to continue your marketing and sales efforts in the future.
To ensure the success of The No Formula, Mary found that you will want to add pauses and the correct inflection when you ask for permission.
The “No” Formula is powerful in getting decision makers to say “Yes,” which gives you permission to continue marketing and selling to them. What a relief! You no longer have to worry about bothering the prospect going forward.
While it’s okay to alter the words and time frame, we strongly recommend that you memorize the No Formula. Practice it out loud until it sounds natural and unscripted.
In the inaugural issue of Conscious-preneur magazine I wrote about what it means to be a conscious-preneur. As one myself, and one who has worked with many aspiring conscious entrepreneurs over the years, I've developed a discerning eye for who is the real deal and who is a pretender.
To help you discover where you fall, I've put together a simple test.
First read the statements that reflect what conscious-preneurs are thinking, and then reflect on the nine statements that follow. Of those nine, mark the ones that you can identify with.
Be open and honest with yourself, this is only for you.
I have an incredible sense of purpose in life.
I have a powerful inner calling to make a positive difference. I have a high dream that I desire to manifest.
I wake up each day desiring to make the world a better place. I am committed to my own inner
journey of growth and development, but...
I sacrifice my own health and well-being in order to make my business venture happen.
I often operate from worry or anxiety (subtle and not so) about what I'm doing or what is happening in my life and business.
I am driven to make a profit. Financial success for myself and my business is very important.
I am often busy all through my days, on the go, including weekends. Despite wanting to, I make little time for self-reflection, meditation or quiet time alone.
I spend little time discovering and healing my shadow side, ego patterns, shadowy addictions, past traumas and other inner barriers to living my potential.
I am conscious about what other people think of me. I wear the 'conscious-preneur' label like a badge of honor. I want others to know that's what I'm about.
It's important that I am successful, or at least seen as successful. I am afraid to fail or to be seen as failing in my ventures.
My products and services are paramount to everything my business stands for. I am driven to have my products and services make the world a better place. Let's score it and see how you did!
If you identified with:
0-2 - You are solidly on the path of conscious-preneurship. Keep it up!
3-4 - There are visible cracks along your path, but with focused intention on your personal growth, those will not present a barrier for long.
5 or more - It's likely you are enamored with the idea of being a conscious entrepreneur more than actually being one.
Be open and honest with yourself, this is only for you.
-Leon VanderPol
It's quite the miracle –the world changes the
What I listed are some of the key barriers to being a true conscious-preneurship, because they are pointing to aspects of your inner reality that subvert your capacity to operate from a state of higher consciousness, of lightness, ease, trust and joy.
If your score on this test is less than ideal, it may be time to get serious about your inner game. Make more time for it. Make it the center of your existence. And then notice how the world changes when you do.
It's quite the miracle – the world changes the moment we change. article here.)
As I wrote in part 1, conscious entrepreneurs recognize that our personal and spiritual growth matters beyond all else because everything we do and create is an extension of our inner reality. (Read the full article here.)
Conscious entrepreneurs have a tremendous desire to do meaningful work and to make a positive difference. We have developed products and services born of that desire. But all of it diminishes in existential value when the way we do business each day comes from a less-than conscious, less-than aware state of mind and being.
Leon VanderPol is the founder of the Center for Transformational Coaching and author of A Shift in Being – The Art and Practices of Deep Transformational Coaching.
His journey of founding and building the Center into the vibrant global coach training school that it is today, is the fulfillment of a life vision for himself that began over 15 years ago. It has allowed him to do work that is of his highest calling and soul
purpose, while enabling a community of transformational coaches and practitioners from around the world to do the same.
Visit www.centerfortransformationalcoaching.com to learn more.
have a tremendous desire to do meaningful work
Conscious entrepreneurs recognize that our personal and spiritual growth matters beyond all else
The owners of failed businesses often have something in common. Their mutual struggle lies in the fact that they aren’t sure how to handle the bookkeeping aspect of owning a business.
It’s not the most enjoyable part of owning a business, but money was probably why you started the business in the first place! Dealing with the everyday accounting tasks can be pivotal to the survival of a small business.
These bookkeeping tips will help to ensure your business stays in the black:
• It’s crucial to have an actual record keeping system in place. A shoebox-approach won’t work for long.
• Be prompt when invoicing customers. Most people sit on bills as long as they can before paying. Let them start sitting on your invoice sooner rather than later. Get invoices to your customers as soon as possible.
• Deposit checks on a weekly basis, if not more frequently. Checks that are stuck in a drawer get lost. Also, you want to cash the check while the funds are still there. Imagine having to go back to your customer with an expired check to ask for a new one. You’ll likely feel humiliated by your lack of professionalism.
• Track which invoices have been paid and which ones haven’t. Usually, the whole point of owning a side business is to get paid.
• Follow up on invoices that haven’t been paid. Some customers just require a friendly reminder that their bill is due.
• Be accurate. Inaccurate books create headaches that can take a long time to rectify.
• Bookkeeping is a priority. Getting paid and controlling your expenses is extremely important. Let’s not drop the ball 5 yards from the end zone.
• Create an atmosphere that discourages employees from stealing from you. If you take yourself completely out of the loop, you’re asking for big trouble. Make it a point to know about every dollar that is flowing in and out of your company.
• Audit yourself. Ideally, you could afford to bring in someone else to look over your operation, but if your business is small enough, you can do it yourself.
These tips will eliminate and discourage the most common bookkeeping mistakes made in small businesses. Try them out with your business to ensure continued success!
-Christina Springstead
When we are not creating the results or having the experiences that we desire, our default tendency is to look for external situations and people to blame, complain about, or criticize. According to our personal perspective, these “highly effective” behaviors help us believe that we are doing something by acknowledging the problem and perhaps, self-diagnosing the root cause. However, these
behaviors rarely, if ever; actually resolve the issue. They simply put the responsibility for a solution on someone or something else. I’m sure that we can all hear Dr. Phil asking us, “How is that working for you?”.
You might respond: “No, this isn’t working, but it’s because of (something you don’t have any control over).”
Or, “No, this isn’t working, but I don’t know what else to do!”
Or you might take a step back and ask yourself, “How am I contributing to this situation?”
If you answer a or b, waiting for others to change, you put the responsibility for solutions on others. As a result, you continue to use behaviors that avoid responsibility
(blaming, complaining, criticizing or judging others), keeping yourself in a state of chronic stress. Eventually, this stress will impact your health, relationships and ultimately, the success of your business.
When you choose option c, as a response, you immediately open up the door to possibilities. You are willing to consider your contribution to the undesired result or negative experience. Instead of assigning responsibility to others (whom you have no control over), you take responsibility for what you can.
Once we are willing to consider how we are contributing to the situation, we can ask ourselves if the barrier is rooted in our will, our skill, or our environment.
Today, let’s examine skill. As entrepreneurs, we have steep learning curves. With business growth, it seems like there are always 10 extra things to learn and master. It often feels overwhelming. Even when most things are going well, there is always an invitation to learn and expand into something new. However, if you have an unconscious avoidance of learning, you will feel stuck and continue to blame and complain, hoping that something will change in your favor.
We all have a story about who we were as students. These stories have a way of showing up as true for us, even as adults.
To be your personal and professional best is when you are able to adapt.
-Dr. Mary Meduna-Gross
For example, Dave kept telling me that he was not good at reading or math in school, and he assumed that this held true today. However, when we examined his routine activities, he could find no evidence of these deficits presently. Even so, he had generalized this assumption of being a poor learner to other parts of his life. He was the kind of person who over-controlled situations, so that he could keep them within his comfort zone. New challenges immediately raised his anxiety because he didn’t believe that he had the capacity to learn and adapt. As a result, he turned down new experiences and became quite self-contained.
In contrast, Mona often reminded me that she was so good in school that she advanced a grade in elementary school. Yet, she almost cried as she described her frustration with setting up her new computer. Although her brother and partner were present, as she was learning to navigate the system, she didn’t know how to ask them for help. With every ‘wrong’ move, she felt more disempowered. Although she was confident in her ability to master ‘book learning’, she didn’t trust herself to learn how to play, and she didn’t know how to ask her loved ones for support.
These are some common core beliefs that keep us unwilling to explore new learning experiences:
If I fail or don’t perform well, others will judge me. When others judge me, they will leave me, or they will talk badly about me to others; who then may leave me.
If I try and fail, this will confirm that I lack the ability to learn. If I can’t learn, I don’t have value.
If I try and succeed, people might expect more from me, and I may not be willing to do more.
What are you blaming, complaining, or criticizing about that you could resolve by being willing to learn something new?
You can create new possibilities for yourself by:
Accepting the opportunity to listen to yourself more deeply and uncover the unconscious core beliefs that hold you back.
Observing yourself during situations where you have an aversion to learning something new.
Tuning into your emotions and listening to your inner chatter. Keep asking yourself, “How does my perception of this situation shape how I feel about myself?”
Giving yourself grace and compassion when you arrive at the answer.
Reflecting on your first memory of these emotions where you concluded that you were not a good learner. Feel the emotions that your younger self wasn’t able to acknowledge. Allow this emotional energy to dissipate. Create a new story of yourself as a learner. What is your new truth?
Write it down, and keep it consistently in sight to reinforce this new version of you.
To be your personal and professional best is when you are able to adapt. Do you want yourself and your business to thrive without limitations?
If you recognize that the fear of learning is holding you back, and you don’t want to wait for someone or something else to change for you to feel better, schedule a call with me today.
Dr. Mary Meduna-Gross is on a mission to support mission driven entrepreneurs who are ready to become the leader their business or team needs.
Feel the emotions that your younger self wasn’t able to acknowledge.
-Dr. Mary Meduna-Gross
to support mission driven
