We all have Big Ideas, Dreams, and Goals that we would like to manifest and share with the world. Our dreams and ideas are unique to us and come with our creative thought. Whether it’s a product, a service, or a program, the “launch” phase or getting a Big Idea “off the ground” can feel daunting or possibly like mission impossible. We can feel anxious and frustrated by this seemingly slow process.

By chance, I happened to meet an owner of a hot air balloon company in Park City and was surprised to learn what’s involved in a successful flight. In order to take that glorious, colorful ride, the majority of work goes on before anyone arrives to get inside the bucket of the balloon. Teams of two or more people work together to make sure everything is ready for a safe and enjoyable flight. 50% of the energy source – — the heat that creates the air to get the balloon off the ground — is used in the beginning. After the balloon gets off the ground and reaches its desired altitude, it’s smooth sailing.

How about you? What color is your dream? Have you made a decision to get your Big Idea, Dream or Goal “off the ground?” Have you started the process of getting everything ready to fly your idea high into the sky where others can see it and want to be a part of it either as a customer or a support system? Plato, the Greek Philosopher said, “The beginning is the most important part.” Getting a new idea “off the ground” is exciting. The beginning is a time of creativity and designing your product or service that is unique to you. It’s important to realize the amount of effort it takes. It requires a lot of energy and commitment and certainly worth it in the end.

Here are a three solutions that can help you get your big idea “off the ground” much easier:

1. Develop the right mindset – Remember: Mindset first, details later. Make a commitment to yourself that this is important for you and that you are going to manifest this dream. It’s essential that you share your commitment with the valued people in your life in order to gain their support.

2. Develop a plan -  Write a detailed plan of everything you can think of that needs to be done to make this dream happen. As you look at the list, decide where you will need the expertise and support from others. You cannot do it all by yourself. The key to a successful outcome is to have people around you who are excited about your dream and have the expertise you need to make it happen. I have a great support system around me and it didn’t happen by accident. I made a commitment to foster this environment because I knew my success depended on it.

3. Just do it – This phrase (coined by Nike) says it all for me. Taking that first step with the intention to make it happen is the real key to success. Most of the successful people I’ve met didn’t have any more knowledge or expertise than you and I. But what they did have is a desire to reach the goal.

Ask yourself these questions: “What will it take to get my Big Idea off the ground?” “How high do I want to go with it?” “Who can help me accomplish this goal?” And knowing that in the beginning, it will take more than 50% of your time and energy to realize this Big Idea, take the steps to make it happen and get the support you need. Keep me posted and let me know how it’s going. I’ll be looking for you high in the sky.

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2011 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at Profits With Passion.

Although I don’t often go to the movies, I was fortunate enough to see the movie that won best picture, “Slum Dog Millionaire.” As I listened to the acceptance speech for this amazing film, there were some really valuable “golden nuggets” that were shared that reminded me of my work with Smart Women who are ready to re-invent themselves and take their lives to the next level:

During the acceptance speech, the director used a few key words to describe their journey to realizing their dream of making this important film:

Passion – He described how everyone involved with the film had a “passion” to see it come to life. The passion for making this film was full of life even before it seemed possible that it would actually take its first breath—before they had actors or even money to make it happen. The excitement and gratitude in their faces was penetrating. The tears of joy were real and in some of the faces, you could see shock or disbelief as if they could not believe it was truly happening.

How about you? Do you have a burning passion, a burning desire to bring an idea or a dream to reality? Can you visualize it? Can you see it happening, coming to life?

Commitment – He talked about the commitment that each person had for this dream, this project. From the beginning to the end, having a commitment to the film (even when it appeared likely that it would not be made) was essential to the process.

How about you? Do you have a commitment to a Big Idea, Dream, or Goal? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen? Are you intentional in your daily action steps to move closer to realizing your goal?

Hope – He spoke of hope being a part of the daily thought process. Despair or doubt was not an emotion that entered their minds even when they had absolutely no money to make this film, when doors were closed to their idea—their dream.

How about you? Do you live in hope and possibility? Do you surround yourself with an environment of people who speak the language of hope, possibility, and belief that Big ideas, dreams, and goals can become a reality?

Oprah referred to the film, “Slum Dog Millionaire” as “The Little Movie That Would.” I love the story “The Little Engine That Could” and have read this to my children for years. It brings forth a positive message about the power of confidence, hope, persistence, and the feelings of accomplishment.
I’m going to leave you today with a quote that seems perfect right at this moment:

“Never believe that a small group of people
could not change the world. Indeed, it’s the
only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

What are you passionate about? What are you committed to? What do you hope for? What are you going to change in your life so that you can live your dreams?

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.
 
© 2009 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Joy Chudacoff is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions™, a Certified Professional Coach and Motivational Speaker. To read more articles by Joy and learn more about her Success Circle workshops, teleseminars or keynote topics, please visit her website, www.SmartWomenSolutions.com or contact Joy at Joy@SmartWomenSolutions.com.

I  replied, “Yes, I have and you always need to be prepared for a quick change in the weather when you are on the mountain.”  As I prepared myself to leave for skiing that morning, I began to reflect on how being prepared for snow skiing is a lot like preparation for success as a woman entrepreneur.

When you desire a successful day of skiing, there needs to be some planning before you get on the chair lift.  You need to stop and think about all of the things that you will need in order to have a great day.  (This is why ski wear has about 19 pockets located inside and outside the clothing!)  If you are a woman who skis, then you know that the weather can change at any given moment so you need to pack accordingly.  If you choose to go skiing without thoughtful preparation, you may be in for a challenging day.

If you are a woman with a Big Idea, Dream or Goal, realizing your big vision can be similar to a woman getting prepared for success in a day of skiing.

As I rode up the chair lift that morning, I thought of 4 solutions to help you have a great day of skiing and realize your Big Idea, Dreams, and Goals as a woman entrepreneur:

1. Be prepared for all sorts of weather – If you can imagine the top of the mountain representing your Big Idea or Goal, then you know as you make your journey upward, there will be changes in the climate and the terrain.  In your business, there will be times of quick and easy success and there will be challenges that need to be met along the way.  Make sure you have packed the necessary items for success.  For example, a detailed plan of action to reach your goal, lots of support, focus, and consistency.  Don’t forget to bring energy and passion!
2. Don’t stay “Green” for too long – Smart Women know that you will need to get uncomfortable in order to become a better skier.  To facilitate improvement, you will need to advance beyond the “Green”(easier trails) and move on to “Blue” (more difficult).  In reaching your business goals, if you are feeling really comfortable, then most likely your goals are not big enough or you have lost some energy and passion for your vision.  It’s important to stretch yourself.  When I challenge myself on the mountain by taking a trail that’s a bit beyond my ability, it feels good when I reach the bottom and can look back and reflect on my accomplishment.  Always strive to dream or have a vision that’s just a little bit larger than what you think you can accomplish.  You will be surprised at what will happen!
3. “Follow The Leader” - I see a lot of people struggling on the mountain who are beginner skiers (by the way, I’m a beginner intermediate at best!).  The fastest way to reach your goals whether it’s skiing or realizing your entrepreneurial vision is to follow the leader.  Follow someone who shows a clear mastery of where you want to go.  Take a lesson.  This solution has been the one that has moved me forward the fastest in my own entrepreneurial journey.  I like to move quickly when I have made a decision to tke action on a dream or desire.  I always have coaches, mastermind groups, and mentors to help me achieve my Big Ideas at a faster pace.  I continue to invest in my own learning every year to help me reach my goals more quickly.
4. Rest and Re-energize – Smart Women need to take breaks often.  Being an entrepreneur takes a lot of energy.  When we get passionate about something, we tend to go non-stop until we make our dream happen.  It’s essential that you stop along the way to reflect and re-energize.  It’s during those times of rest and relaxation that we can ponder what might be next with real clarity and focus.

It was a gorgeous day for skiing.  The weather conditions were just about perfect.  In the late afternoon, the sky became overcast and a chill was in the air.  I know I was happy that I packed my face mask in my pocket.  My son Jack was too.  I’ll see you on your way to the top…

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

© 2009 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?
You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:
Joy Chudacoff is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions, a
Certified Professional Coach and Motivational Speaker. To read more
articles by Joy and learn more about her Success Circle workshops,
teleseminars or keynote topics, please visit her website,
www.SmartWomenSolutions.com or contact Joy at
Joy@SmartWomenSolutions.com.

We all have fear about something. Fear of heights, fear of snakes, fear of roller coasters. Many times these fears are related to childhood. I’m fearful of snakes. It was a big deal in our family when I was young. We lived on a farm in the mountains and in the summertime, my grandfather, “Pop,” would continually share with us the danger of snakes and to be careful at all times. You hear that “message” enough and your fear begins to grow. As a young woman, this fear began to alter my life experiences. For example, I would not go hiking with a friend on a hot summer day for fear of snakes. However, when my children got to the age where they wanted to go to the zoo, I had to face my fear. Why? My children do not know that I fear snakes. And guess what? I do not want to create that fear for them so I oblige them when they want to go to the “reptile center.” Do I feel anxious? Yes. But it’s something that I must move through.

Fear can affect your life in so many ways. One of the big “fears” is fear of failure. Fear of trying anything new because you are afraid it might not work out–you might fail. This is why many of us do not share our goals or even write them down on paper. I read an interesting study recently that only 3% of the population writes down their goals. Why? Fear. What if someone reads the paper and finds out you did not accomplish the goal? Fear is an emotion that we feel that appears to be real. This feeling can keep you trapped where you are in life. You can remain stuck in a place that no longer serves you. Fear can keep you from stepping into a place full of energy, passion, and purpose. It can hold you back from realizing your Big Idea, Dreams, and Goals.

How about you? Is there something that you dream of doing but you know that fear is holding you back? Do you get excited about taking action on a Big Idea only to talk yourself out of it with a fear-based conversation? One of my coaches shared with me, “If the desire is there, the how-to will come.” If you desire something new or different in your life, now is the perfect time to look that fear in the eye and really ask yourself on a deeper level if the emotion you are feeling is real.

Here are a few solutions that can help you conquer your fear and step into your Big Idea, Dreams, and Goals:

1. Ask yourself this question: What facts do I have to support this fear becoming real? Where is the “truth” in this feeling of fear? See if you can find answers to support it. (My guess is you won’t–I’ve never been bitten by a snake.)

2. To help you overcome fear and believe in yourself, grab a pen and some paper. Write down all of the compliments that people have given you over the years. This is an exercise that I use every time I’m getting ready to step into something new in my life. I pull out all of the rave reviews that women have sent me and I read them. You will be surprised how powerful and “fearless” you become after doing this exercise.

3. Surround yourself with a group of people who are supportive. In my Women’s Success Circles, we call these people “possibility thinkers.” Spend time with those who can think in terms of possibility. Most negative thoughts and conversations come out of fear-based thinking. When you are stepping into your preferred future, you want to minimize contact with fearful, negative people.

It’s interesting where we find the lessons in our lives. I certainly did not think that it would be in my 6-year-old daughter’s backpack. Take a leap of faith and begin this New Year with belief in yourself. “Learn to relax and face fear. Trust in yourself.”

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

© 2009 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Joy Chudacoff is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions™, a Certified Professional Coach and Motivational Speaker. To read more articles by Joy and learn more about her Success Circle workshops, teleseminars or keynote topics, please visit her website, www.SmartWomenSolutions.com or contact Joy at Joy@SmartWomenSolutions.com.

We all want an abundant source of constant cash flow in our lives. We all want to be healthy and fit. We all want to live in favored neighborhoods and send our children to the best schools. We want quality vacations and to dine in restaurants that serve refreshing drinks and delicious food. Here’s the Big Question: What steps have you taken to secure all of your “wants” in life?

I ran an anonymous survey recently in my business. There were questions about how you were going to accomplish your Big Idea, goals, and dreams. Some of the answers were: “Win the Lottery”, “Get married again”, or “I have no idea.” Honest, but troubling answers. These answers tell me that many of us are not taking ownership for our future. We are waiting for someone or something to make it happen. From my own experience, I can tell you this is a huge mistake. It’s like the old expression, “If it’s to be, it’s up to me!” You will need to take the required steps in order to create positive change in your life.

Have any of you who have achieved a certain degree of success been told by friends, family or colleagues, “We knew you could achieve that goal. You have always been lucky.” Sound familiar to anyone? I know I’ve heard that a few times in my life. I was fortunate to have a mentor who became quite successful. He created a lot of abundance in his life. He grew up in real poverty. He once shared with me his definition of LUCK: “Laboring Under Correct Knowledge.” Well said and I’ve never forgotten it. Two words stand out for me: Labor, which means work and Knowledge, which means taking classes and gaining the specialized knowledge that you need, including asking for help, in order to achieve your desired goals.

How about you? What are you willing to do in order to make your Big Ideas, Dreams, and Goals happen in 2009? What steps are necessary for you to create abundance in all areas of your life?

One of the exercises that the Women in my Success Circles do at the end of the year is to take a “Personal Inventory.” It helps to illuminate what went well and also where they might need some support moving forward into the next year. Grab a pen and some paper. Find a quiet spot and jot down the answers to the following questions:

1. What Goals were important to me in 2008?
2. Have I been persistent in following my plan to meet those goals?
3. Have I permitted procrastination to creep in?
4. Did I have enough support to accomplish my goals?
5. Did I use my time wisely?

These are just a few of the questions from the Personal Inventory exercise. I invite you to think about your answers. Be honest with yourself. If any of the questions were painful for you to answer because you are not where you want to be, I have good news for you! You are about to step into a New Year. You can create a new way of being. You can take positive action to make your dreams and goals come true. It all comes down to two things: Choice and Decision.

I’m going to leave you on this New Year’s Eve with one of the most powerful quotes of our time. You may have heard it before. It seems perfect as we get ready to step into 2009:

“Our Deepest Fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?” Marianne Williamson

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

© 2008 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?
You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions, a Certified Professional Coach and Motivational Speaker. To read more articles by Joy and learn more about her Success Circle workshops, teleseminars or keynote topics, please visit her website,
www.SmartWomenSolutions.com or contact Joy at Joy@SmartWomenSolutions.com.

Being a woman who encourages new ideas and new perspectives, I went off to take a bubble bath (a nightly self-care ritual!) and to reflect on his question.

In my work with women, the foundation is always around passionate and purposeful living.  In order to live a life full of unlimited energy filled with passion and purpose, you will be making big things happen in your life.  You will be connecting with your Big Ideas, dreams and goals.  You will seek and find the proper support to help you achieve your goals.  This becomes a way of life for women who choose to live without boundaries around what they can and deserve to accomplish.

The challenge for me is that I know only a fraction of women in the world are living the kind of life I just described.  It seems unrealistic to many women–not possible, not achievable.  I think this is the reason I continue to write so often about this idea.  I want to encourage women in every way imaginable that having a life that is overflowing with abundance is possible.

How about you?  Is this something you desire?  To create a life that is on purpose, both at work and at home, and achieving those Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals?  I know this is something that I desperately wanted in my life 10 years ago.  I was searching for what might be next for me, what my purpose was, who could support me in going to the next level in my life.  I would wake up most days with those nagging questions and the empty answers: “What do I want to do next?”  “Who can I talk to that will be able to help me?”  “What might be the next step to move me closer to my dreams and goals?”

Today I am living a high-energy, passionate, purposeful life but it was not by accident.  It was through taking the right steps to find out what I truly wanted for myself (not what others might want for me), finding the right support to make it happen, and working with my support system to put a plan together that would result in a successful outcome.

I invite you to grab a pen and some paper, sit down, and ask yourself a very important question:

What do I want?

Not just what you need to get by or what other people think you should want.  Initially, you might catch yourself writing something “safe.”  “Safe” meaning it might be within your reach but it’s not really what you truly want at your core.

So yes, Greg, you are correct.  I am going to continue to write about Making your Big Idea , Dreams and Goals Happen.  I’m going to write about living a life filled with unlimited energy, passion, and purpose and all the blah, blah, blah.  At least until I’m satisfied that more women are waking up to this lifestyle each and every day.

The New Year is fast approaching (13 days!).  Now is the time to “get real” about what you really want moving forward.  And I’m going to be here to support you in getting what you really want both in your personal life and your entrepreneurial life, but you have to do some of the work.  You have to decide what it is…

© 2008 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?
You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:
Joy Chudacoff is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions, a
Certified Professional Coach and Motivational Speaker. To read more
articles by Joy and learn more about her Success Circle workshops,
teleseminars or keynote topics, please visit her website,
www.SmartWomenSolutions.com or contact Joy at
Joy@SmartWomenSolutions.com.

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

Later that day, we found out that it was the Space Shuttle Endeavour touching down at Edwards Air Force Base, which is about 100 miles away.  This got me thinking about how Smart Women have Big Ideas, dreams, and goals that are a lot like rocket ships.

Taking your life or business to the next level is a lot like preparing to launch a rocket ship.  It means you have made a decision to take yourself to a whole new level of being.  Can you imagine what that would look like? 

Does it excite you?  Does it frighten you?  I would imagine you might feel both emotions.  It can be exciting and frightening to think about taking your life and your business to a whole new level.  It’s powerful, courageous, and strong. 

Women who create the space in their lives to build and launch their own Big Ideas, dreams, and goals are women who have raised their hand to say “Yes, I want to get clear about what I want moving forward and build a strong foundation so I can live the life that I was meant for!”

So what might be involved in the process of launching your own rocket ship?  I invite you to ask yourself the following key questions—the Where, What, and Who:

1. First, where am I going? Where do I want my rocket ship to take me in 2009?  You will need to decide where you want to go, what you want to see, and what you want to accomplish on this journey to your Big Idea.
2. What will I need to have onboard this flight for it to be successful?  What do I need to hold on to?  What do I need to add or take on?  An example could be learning new information.
3. What do I need to let go of? What is in my life right now that will not serve me on this flight that I’m about to make?  Is there something that’s holding you back from launching into your best self?
4. Who do I want to join me in the rocket ship and take the journey with me?  To be successful, you will need the right support system.  Having the “right” support when you are launching your Big Idea, dreams, and goals is essential to the success of the flight.  These people need to believe in you and the flight you are about to take.

I’m getting very excited about 2009.  I’m preparing my rocket ship to take off and I’m looking forward to taking you with me.

In my Women’s Success Circles, I actually brought in a book about rocket ships (easy to find when you have an 8-year-old son!).  I really want women to think about their lives and their business in this way.  The women in my Success Circles got very excited about using this analogy to launch their lives moving forward in 2009.

Can you imagine setting a launch date, preparing your desired rocket ship with the right navigation, the right items inside, and the right support system?  As you visualize that right now, are you getting excited?  Can you feel your pulse rate increase?  You should.  If you really took the time to do this, you would be unstoppable.  It means that you have an intention to make 2009 a year where you are living on purpose and taking yourself and your business to the next level.

The first step to placing your rocket ship on the launch pad relies on your belief that you can do it and that you deserve to have it.  Once you fully believe that you should and can have it, then the work begins to make it happen.

© 2008 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?
You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Joy Chudacoff is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions, a Certified Professional Coach and Motivational Speaker. To read more articles by Joy and learn more about her Success Circle workshops, teleseminars or keynote topics, please visit her website, www.SmartWomenSolutions.com or contact Joy at Joy@SmartWomenSolutions.com.

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

This got me thinking about how Smart Women take the leap into realizing their Big Ideas, Dreams, and Goals.

We all have passions and dreams inside of us.  There may be times in our life when those passions and dreams can take a “back seat” to other areas in our lives, but they are still there—they never disappear or go away.  They wait patiently for us to acknowledge them and take some sort of action—a leap toward them.  As we begin to fantasize about those unfulfilled passions and dreams, we can sometimes fall into a trap of believing that they may never come true.  Why?  Because these dreams usually require change that’s really “big.”  Change would need to occur in our lives. 

Change brings about uncertainty and being “uncomfortable.” Do you think I might be writing from experience?

Many of you know my story.  I founded and ran an international marketing company for 12 years.  It started as a part-time business because I needed to earn extra income.  Over time (and a lot of hard work!), it became an international company that was very successful.  This allowed me the opportunity to travel to wonderful places all over the world to do my work.  When I became a mom, I realized that this was no longer the right path for me.  After much soul-searching, I felt a calling to work with women to help them realize their own passions and dreams.  Was it easy?  No way!  Was it challenging to make such a bold change in my life with two young children?  You bet.

Every time I have taken the leap to my next Big Idea, Dream or Goal, it has never been easy.  One of my mentors said, “Change does not always mean success, but success always means change.” If I think about each “leap” that I have taken, change was always present once I made the decision to do something new or different.  I became a little uncomfortable each time and then after awhile, the “uncomfortable” became comfortable.  It became my new way of being in the world.  I did not always like being “uncomfortable” or taking the leap initially, but I knew if I didn’t take the leap, it meant staying exactly where I was and that was not an acceptable place for me.

How about you?  Are you thinking that you need to make a change in some area of you life?  Do you want to do something different?  Are you ready to take the leap? I know that I am at the edge of something and I’m getting ready to take the leap into new areas of my life.  For me, it’s about believing in myself and having faith in my decision.  It’s about connecting with my passion and then making a solid plan to support it.

I invite you to think about what you want to take a leap towards.  Sit down in a quiet place with some paper and colorful pens and begin to write down what it looks like.  Sometimes, it’s just a matter of giving yourself permission to look at your life in a different way.  You will need a good support system when you take the leap.  Who will that be?  Can you visualize those people?  What resources or new information will you need to make it happen?  You are 41 days away from 2009.  Now is the ideal time for you to begin thinking about what you want to leap into in the New Year.

Sometimes the only feasible method of transportation is to take the leap.

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

© 2008 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?
You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:
Joy Chudacoff is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions, a
Certified Professional Coach and Motivational Speaker. To read more
articles by Joy and learn more about her Success Circle workshops,
teleseminars or keynote topics, please visit her website,
www.SmartWomenSolutions.com or contact Joy at
Joy@SmartWomenSolutions.com.

After awhile, I realized that the people running the booths with the highest energy and excitement levels drew the most people. This got me thinking about how Smart Women know that it’s not the service or the product that will make you successful in life. The key is You, the person behind the product or service.

Every day we are met with lots of choices about different products or services that we can use to benefit us in some way. I’m always curious to learn why people choose one product or service over another. Time and again, I learn that people choose to purchase products and services from people that they Believe, Like, and Trust—the BLT Factor.

We want to choose situations in life where we can be with people we Believe have our best interests at heart. We believe that they have the expert knowledge on this product or service. We want to Like the person we do business with. I have been in business for over 20 years and there have been many times that I did not purchase based on price. I base almost all of my purchasing decisions on my relationship with someone. If I Like you, I want to purchase your product or service. Better yet, if I Like you, I want to refer you to as many people as I can.

Lastly, but certainly not least, people want to Trust the person they do business with. Trust is essential in any relationship. People want to Trust that you will take care of them, that you will stand by them and advise them in a trusting way. If the Trust factor is not there, it’s likely that you will not create the kind of success you might otherwise have. The BLT Factor holds true both in our personal and professional.

This is a big part of my work with women. I create the BLT factor in my Women’s Success Circles as well as with my individual clients. It’s essential to your business and your relationships in the community. The people in the world who understand the BLT Factor are everywhere. It’s Joseph at the coffee shop who makes your experience so wonderful at 6:00 am; it’s the teacher who lights up your child’s face every time your child sees them; it’s your coach or mentor who seems to be able to always bring out the best in you. I had a mentor who told me, “It’s not what you say. It’s how you feel about what you say.” Well said. It’s the energy and enthusiasm that you put forth on anything and everything that you do.

How about you? Do you understand the BLT factor? Do people Believe in You? Do people Like to be with You? Do you create that Trust factor? Being Believeable, Likable, and Trusting are the keys to true success in all of your relationships. I invite you to spend some time reflecting on these three attributes. You have the ability to create Belief, Likeability, and Trust—we all do. The world around you is an easier place to navigate and opportunities open up to you both personally and professionally in ways that you cannot imagine.

I went by a few of the booths later that afternoon that had been less crowded earlier in the day and, sure enough, one of those booths had a long line of children. What changed? Not the activity. Not the location. What had changed was the person running the booth. She was full of energy, cheering each child on as they tried their luck, and I heard her encouraging each child by saying “I know you can do it!” And you know what? They did. She was a woman who understands the BLT Factor. I’m going to leave you with a quote today that seems to capture it all:

“We must be the change we wish to see in the world.” –Ghandi

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

© 2008 Joy Chudacoff

Every time we go, Jenna always asks me, “Mom, when are you going to ice skate with me?”  And my answer has been, “Oh, maybe next time.”   Yesterday, Jenna asked her usual question and as I prepared myself to give her the typical answer, she quickly spoke up and said, “Mom, please, please, skate today!” 

I finally admitted to Jenna that I had never been on ice skates before.  Jenna’s answer:  “Mom, it’s easy—I’ll teach you!”  And so there was nothing left to do but rent the skates and prepare myself for what I thought would be a dreadful outcome.

My heart was racing as I approached the ice on unsteady skates.  Another woman could sense my apprehension. The absolute look of terror on my face was probably also a clue!  She shared with me that there was another entrance to the ice rink that had “wider rails to hold onto.”  And hold onto the rails, I did! Clutching every step of the way in the beginning! 

When you are faced with something new in your life, you have two choices:  Yes, to learning something new and getting out of your comfort zone; or No, I’m going to stay exactly where I am.  Being uncomfortable or unsure of yourself and your abilities is no fun. It holds the possibility of making mistakes that others can see and being unsure of the outcome—two things that we want to avoid at all costs.  Let me ask you a question: What is it costing you?  What is your unwillingness to explore and discover something new costing you along the way?  I can tell you that if I had not rented those skates and joined my daughter on the ice, the cost of not having the experience would have been high—possibly priceless.

As I made my way around the ice rink with Jenna a few times, I found that I was becoming a little more sure of myself.  I was able to stop looking at my feet and the ice in front of me and actually look around a bit to see others skating.  And here is the part that was totally unexpected.  Total strangers would skate up to me to offer me tips.  Sharing how to prevent a possible fall, places in the rink to avoid where the ice was not as solid.  And, as I eventually was able to let go of the rails for a moment or two, those strangers would skate by and say, “Looking Good!”  I had coaches, mentors and teachers all around me—people who love to ice skate and wanted to share it with a beginner like me.  And my biggest fan?  Yep, you guessed—Jenna!  She was beaming and full of compliments every step of the way. 

How about you?  Is there something that you want to do or others have encouraged you to try and you keep avoiding the experience for fear of failure?  What I learned that day was when we try something new, we will most likely fall down.  It’s the attitude we take on when we get up that makes all the difference.  And there are coaches, teachers and mentors everywhere waiting to share their knowledge with you so that, you too, can take on something new in your life—something that can possibly bring on new energy, passion and growth.

This past weekend, I watched many of the interviews with Michael Phelps (the new eight-time world record holder for swimming in the Olympics) and his first coach from when he was a young boy said that there was one trait Michael has always had.  “He’s never afraid to take a risk or put it out there.”  Well said.  We have to take risks and get uncomfortable in life if we truly want to manifest all the passion and purpose that our lives are meant for. 

Jenna and I skated for about an hour yesterday and I have to say that I was sad to leave the ice.  What I anticipated was going to be a disaster turned out to be full of fun.   I was willing to take a risk and get out of my comfort zone, moving through my fear.  And in the end, it felt good.

© 2008 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO SEE MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE?
See Joy’s website Smart Women Smart Solutions.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Joy Chudacoff is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions, a Certified Professional Coach and Motivational Speaker. To read more articles by Joy and learn more about her Success Circle workshops, teleseminars or keynote topics, please visit her website, www.SmartWomenSolutions.com or contact Joy at Joy@SmartWomenSolutions.com.