The Dilemma of the Heart Based Entrepreneur

We're only 2 weeks away from the Ultimate Love Celebration - Valentines Day - and you may be in the process of creating, re-structuring or improving what some call a "Heart Based Business."

You may not actually call it that to other people - except to others like you - but I have a lot of you as clients, I am one myself, and I know "The Big Dilemma."   

Your business is not about profit margins and widgets sold. Your focus is more likely about  "transformation," "purpose,"  and "spiritual connection."  Whether it's through massage, energy healing, coaching, therapy, consulting or the thousands of self-help channels, you are clear that you do not embrace the old paradigm of being in business just to make money.

 

Your primary focus is most likely to help others and improve the planet, so focusing on what it takes to make money may seem heartless and cold.

But, here's the big dilemma: as we are beating our chests about being more "conscious," and "aware," many heart based entrepreneurs are struggling to pay their bills and aren't making the money to do what they need to really provide better customer service and expand their practices to become truly successful. Some actually avoid success for fear it would taint their services.   (Don't you think your clients would prefer to work with someone who is highly recognized and rewarded for their work?) But, if you are barely keeping your head above water, how many people can you really help? How is this really purposeful?  How do you be heartfelt and yet business conscious at the same time? This is the dilemma.

But, I want you to know there are also many who thrive. I am delighted to say we have a number of them in our network. But we all need a bridge that ties together the service side with the business and success side in our heart centered world.

That's why I'm so excited to be chatting with Camille Leon next Tuesday on our monthly complimentary teleclass.  She's the founder and Executive Director of the The Holistic Chamber of Commerce, a national organization serving over 750 professional "heart based entrepreneurs" in 27 states.  We get her just before she heads to Washington D.C. as a featured speaker at the Voice for HOPE conference.

She understands The Dilemma better than anyone I know, and has an easy to understand solution. She and l will talk about her

 

"6 Elements to Being a Successful Heart Based Entrepreneur in 2013" next Tuesday, Feb. 5.

• You will learn you do not have to give up your heart to be successful.
• She will share how to honor all parts of yourself - your Mind, Body and Spirit.
• We will discuss case studies of solutions she has experienced in her organization.
• You will learn the steps you need to start that will begin improving your income and ability to serve others.
• And, you will have the opportunity to ask her questions!

This is really important stuff and I know you want to hear what she has to say!  If you are heart based entrepreneur, do not miss this!

(Yes, we do send recordings to everyone who has registered.)

 

Register Now at http://tinyurl.com/apu6zms

How to Leverage Your Services

I have been speaking a LOT lately and the message from my audiences is clear.                                                                                         

There are a lot of tired people working hard to try to keep their businesses and careers afloat, and it's exhausting. Here's the problem: The more you work to succeed, the more success you achieve and the more work there is to do, and the less time you have. Anyone experience this? Sometimes its seems like an impossible cycle.

The idea of working less but making more money may seem like a pipe dream, but it's not if you are using the right business models and tools.

For most of us, the solution is in re-structuring and leveraging. I've had to do it myself and will have to do it some more. You probably need to do it too.

But, what on earth does "leveraging" really mean?

Leverage is the art of doing less while multiplying your results with roughly the same resources you already have. If this seems vague, I am dedicating the next 3 months of First Mondays to introduce you to some outstanding examples of solo-entrepreneurs who are "leveraging" very effectively! This is not pie in the sky; these are real people with real results and you can use some of their great ideas for your own ventures!

I am so excited that my first guest is Helen Hodgson, my friend and Premiere Mastermind member who has given me permission to grill her on what took her from being burned out as a massage therapist to running her massage therapy empire here in Southern California!!

Helen Hodgson started her own mobile spa business www.servethegoddess.com in 2000 after working for many prestigious salons & spas in Beverly Hills, California. She was voted one of the best massage therapists by Allure magazine and was featured in Massage magazine, Vibe Vixen, & Chill Out LA. Her TV & radio appearances include NBC, The Benefits of Massage, E Channel Prepping your skin for summer with sunless tanning, Discovery Channel -Relationship make over-Couples massage instruction, MTV -The X effect couples massage instruction, and more!

Helen is a licensed massage therapist in State of California, a Registered Nurse, Fitness Trainer and a member of the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. Helen is a certified trainer and the California state coordinator of the Emergency Response Massage International Team responsible for sending out massage therapists for First Responders at disaster sites.

Helen & her team of 50 consisting of massage therapists, estheticians and nail technicians, provide massage & spa services in homes, offices and at special events for individuals, couples & groups.

In our conversation you are going to:

• Learn the strategy of serving increasing your income by as much as 300-500% with the same work hours.
• The very first steps you need to take to begin your leveraging process that will begin increasing your income immediately.
• Why this is perfect for the small business/solo-entrepreneur.
• Why leveraging is almost cost free with a huge payback.
• And, wait til you hear what she's doing to upleve her own leveraging NEXT!!

Yep, once you get the hang of it, it's the gift that keeps on giving!

PS: This is the audio link to our teleclass.  Enjoy!   http://www.audioacrobat.com/play/WJrd5tyS

I'm excited to share some cool pictures from the outing my Premiere Mastermind and I took last week! (Thank you, Vanessa, for the great photography!)

We decided to "get out of Dodge" and get a fresh environment for our monthly live Mastermind meeting. You can see what a stellar group we are! (missing Elaine Schneider who was between cities). But, we had a conversation about how at first some of us actually resisted going because It was hard to let go and spend a day being "non-productive." Once there, all that changed. Surrounded by amazing architecture, beautiful weather and breathtaking exhibits, our perspectives opened and creativity kicked in. "I am so glad I came," one member said. "My TO DO list will be waiting for me. I wouldn't ever want to miss this!" (Neither did Leslie below who found her ideal Louis XIV gold gilded bedroom below.)

Letting go of our work and routine to let in new experiences or be spontaneous is difficult for many of us swamped with the detail of life. Here are some thoughts that could improve the quality of your life:

1) Stop waiting for the right time to relax. Once engaged in work, the work compulsion takes over. There will never seem like a good time to get away ....until you get away. Once on break, you will wonder why it took you so long to do it.


2) Plan a mid-week getaway or "day trip" to a local museum or amusement park. You need more than an hour to let go; take most of the day and do something that totally takes you away from the routine of your life and work.

3) Make a list of things you want to do but never get around to....and start making plans to do them. We all have our bucket list. Don't wait until you're old; start doing something now.


4) Treat your break away commitments as sacredly as your income goals; they are probably more important. One is a commitment to your work; the second is a commitment to yourself. Be sure you keep it. This is WHY you are working - it's always good to remember that!!



PS: People ask me how they get to be a part of the Premiere Mastermind.

There is no sales page because it's a limited group, but there is an opening right now. It is my coaching focus so I have to keep it small. You get my undivided attention when you're in this group. But you can read a little more on the sidebar, and I will be happy to send you a sheet with the incredible benefits. Just ONE of the benefits is membership in the Fired Up Mastermind Network which can be found at http://www.firedupforsuccess.com/mastermind.html. Feel free to write me with questions at mlm@firedupforsuccess.com

Are We Having Fun Yet?

As I did my own visioning for this year and had to come to a startling realization: I haven’t been having as much fun as I could – and I am a FUN girl!

But like most many service provider/entrepreneurs, my priorities have been servicing my clients, attracting new clients, and learning more about expanding my business. I have carefully scheduled in my family, working out, personal development, and those things which will seemingly give me a higher quality of life.

Despite my best efforts, I admit something has been missing. As we look at the different areas of our lives, where is the slot that says “Giggling, spontaneity, joy with no goal, creative expression, silliness, new unexpected experiences, escape, and side-splitting laughter?” THAT’S what’s been missing!!

Here is what I have discovered has blocked me, and my commitment to changing it. (Wow! I’m saying this in public!) Maybe you can join me!

1) I have been thinking I need to schedule “fun” events for “when I have time.”

I expressed that I needed more fun to the attendees of my Vision Workshop last week, and, lo and behold, I received a couple of amazing fun invitations from people I absolutely love! But, at first I could feel myself resisting it. What!! I could feel myself fearing it would interfere with my work commitments; that it might (hear this) take too much time! But joy energizes so won’t it only enhance my work time? If I wait until I have time – well, I won’t have much time. New Commitment: I can schedule work around my opportunities for fun and joy.

2) I think I need to be an adult; sometimes I need to act like a child

Being an adult can be stressful. Children – icons of play and fun – do almost everything in the moment. When they tire of an activity, they stop and go to something new. But, for me, the adult, the suggestion of an unexpected invitation to lunch, a surprise mid-day walk on the beach, or an unplanned stop at the park strikes a chord of overwhelm, rather than the source of re-vitalizing one’s life. I think: “Don’t these people know I have a schedule? I can’t just drop everything!” But, I have been changing this in the past 6 months, and am now finding these surprise adventures some of my most enjoyable times. No one has had a crisis because I went on a walk or shopped for art, but I returned a more energized, passionate entrepreneur.

3) Not everything achieves a goal; pointless activity is good.

As a vision and goals coach, I tend to be activity focused, so I am better at “fun” if it comes with meeting a goal. The doctor says to relax because it’s good for my heart; I attend a fun event where I can also network; and so forth. But, here’s the truth. My adorable husband is the most grounded person in the Universe, and we experience the most laughter and silliness going to Costco or Home Depot. We have always been a somewhat Seinfeld-like couple where our best times are doing absolutely nothing. Yes, we do travel and do some exotic things, but we don't need to. In fact, we seem to gravitate toward large wholesale stores for our best times – we don’t usually buy much – but the walking around the store watching the people and playing with the shopping cart has brought us hours of amusement. We love Palm Desert – and their Wal-Mart! I have learned that most of what I experience as joyful is in the moment, and often entirely pointless….and incredibly rewarding.

My conclusions are that I need to be more spontaneous, say yes more, and be in the flow more. The resulting passion, energy and varied experiences will bond me to the people around me, and actually cause me to be a more effective service provider and business woman.

Well, now that I have confessed, what about you? I’d love to hear about some of your thoughts about fun in your life and what kind of role it plays. I have no workshop on it and no offer here – just my personal thoughts to start of the New Year!!

Love to hear yours.

The Gratitude Game

As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s a good time to be thankful for the good things in our lives. While most of us view ourselves as thankful for our blessings, we determine what we believe to be a "blessing" and what is not. However, some of your greatest blessings may not initially look all that positive in the beginning.

For instance, my experiencing Cancer is what turned my life around and opened the door to a good health consciousness and rewarding life work. Today I always give thanks for the gift of Cancer, but at the time it was fearful and overwhelming. The first thing to understand about gratitude is that it is not a selective process.

The Gratitude Game begins with the premise that genuine thankfulness begins with being grateful for everything - yes, absolutely EVERYTHING in your life. These are the steps to the Game:

1. Make a list of anything you perceive as positive in your life. The people who love you are a good start. Anything good about your work, your relationships, special advantages or support you've received, anything nice someone else has done for you. Just write down everything you can think of that is good about your life. Be truly grateful for it.

2. Next write down everything ordinary that you take for granted: the roof over your head, your sight, your hearing, the ability to chew, your health, the acticities you are able to enjoy and so forth. When you really think about it, there are so many small, inconsequential conditions that conspire to create a good lifestyle. This is a good time to recognize them.

3. Finally, write down any painful, uncomfortable thoughts, feelings and events, some of which may feel uncomfortable or difficult right now…and get grateful for them. Why? This is how we learn the lessons of life. No one said it was all going to be easy. But, gratitude opens you up. It helps you release the resistance (oh, why did this have to happen to me?) and embrace your difficult circumstances and allow the most good to come from them. What creates your reality is not what happens to you, but how you RESPOND to what happens to you. Life does have challenges, but there is a positive side for each and every one of them. Be grateful for the gift inside of every heartache even if you can’t see it right now.

4. Give thanks for those blessings that are on the way. Feel them coming. Expect success. Expect the best and be grateful for it.

After completing this little game, how do you feel? Everyone who plays is a winner because I'll tell you a secret, gratitude allows you to receive more; it is the foundation of all abundance. An open, gracious heart is a powerful magnet for good. Opportunity, goodness, money, success and joy flows toward gratitude. Try it and see.

And great good is what I wish all of you because I am so grateful for all of you: everyone who reads my newsletters, participates in my classes and with whom I have the greatest priviledge to coach. You are my blessing far beyond business to me.

Have a lovely Thanksgiving.

MONEY AND FEAR: 4 Principles to Transform Your Fears into Money Producing Behaviors!"

Can you succeed in uncertain times? Absolutely. In fact, some of the greatest amounts of money have been made in difficult economic times. Uncertainty also presents new possibilties.

Unfortunately, during any time of change, we become vulnerable to our basest fears. Fear produces more fear which produces anxiety, closed doors, and inability to think creatively which is aboslutely crucial. But, with new information and possibilities, a fresh approach, a little discipline, and support, we can produce outcomes that really support our needs.

Listen to the audio for a very new view and a lot of kick it money receiving attitude:

http://bit.ly/pk8MA3 (part I)

http://bit.ly/qJoCAz (part II)

60 and Out of Work?

The “Baby Boomer” generation encompasses almost 80 million people in the United States. It is one of  the largest segments of our population, eclipsed only slightly by Millennials.  Demographically they are defined as those people born between 1946 and 1964; that boom of children born of the returning soldiers from World War II. (Those soldiers got really busy when they got home.)

It's one of the most influential generations in history; a true phenomenon.

Now aged between 57 and 75, these Boomers are also more and more out of "traditional" work.  They can be replaced with a younger version, far more technically adept, costing half as much. Most will never return to a job again.

Of course, I am a “Boomer” myself, and I haven’t had a job in a lot of years. I have had a business.

This is the hope for all Boomers: self-employment! The problem is that many of my Boomer clients are afraid to have their own businesses. Some of you may not have really considered it because you didn’t know where to begin - and you’re used to having a job. But Boomers can actually be well suited to the entrepreneurial style. Boomers tend to appreciate independence, they do mistrust authority, and they are at a time of life when they are highly skilled.

My opinion is that whether or not you return to corporate life, starting a small business is an excellent step because it keeps you in the game; it gives you focus. We are still the most influential generation in history, and we need to be active and involved in commerce.

Also, a lot of people think “starting a business” is like starting Apple.  This is not about empire building; this is a survival technique. In this Covid era it is usually home-based and requires at least a passing knowledge of Zoom.  We are in an era that is not focused on "jobs," as much as "projects," “outsourcing," and "part time."

This group is not actually "entrepreneurial;" but it is truly "enterprising."     

Having an "enterprise," teaches you about leading, time management, marketing, and presenting - all of which are important in the marketplace today. Also, when you start to look at your work life as comprised of "services you are offering" is more empowering and allows you to think in terms of 2 or 4 "clients" you serve as opposed to serving only one: a boss.

Making money keeps you in the game and makes you feel younger and more vital.  When someone is willing to pay you good money, it makes you feel valued, and pumps so much self-esteem, you won't even need Botox!!  

Are you a Boomer looking for support getting up and running?  Let's chat.  

https://bookedin.com/book/fired-up-for-success 

Mary Lyn