Recently, I attended a women’s conference where I had the opportunity to hear from a powerful group of women who’ve achieved an enormous amount of success in business. Each woman represented a different industry from clothing, NY Times best-selling author to food service. What I found interesting was they all shared similar “gold nuggets” in their business advice and insight. All three women have been a guest on the Oprah Show and their businesses have become an international success. They know business.

What I learned may surprise you. You may think that what’s preventing you from achieving your Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals is something outside of your control. It’s certainly easy to blame others or circumstances for lack of success in life and business. I, too, have had times in my life when placing blame on outside circumstances was convenient but certainly not very helpful. Once again, I was reminded by these super successful women that success is an “inside” game.

If you’ve been wondering how to take an ordinary idea and turn it into an extraordinary business, read on. These 9 clues to success are guaranteed to give you the edge when it comes to making your Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals a reality:

1. Decide – The women were very clear about their decision to become an entrepreneur. There was no turning back. They were focused on making their business dreams and goals happen. Period.
2. Live in Optimism – Each one of them spoke about the power of optimism and this one style of behavior helped them in times of challenge and struggle in their business (especially early on in the start-up phase).
3. Maintain Unshakeable Belief – I had a mentor once who used to say, “people are looking for the chink in your armor.” It’s not what you say about your business that will attract people; it’s how you feel about what you say. These women had unshakeable belief about their business goals from the very start.
4. Take Inspired Action – There is a difference between action and inspired action. Do you get up every day with energy and passion for your business or do you hit the snooze button most days? Do you feel inspired when you get into your office or does it feel like a “ball and chain?” These women love what they do and it shows.
5. Follow Your “Gut” – Whether you are in the start-up phase or ready to take your business to the next level of success, trust your instincts.
6. ASK – This was BIG. These women were not afraid to share their ideas with anyone. They developed a marketing message about their mission and shared it everywhere they went with anyone who would listen. Challenge yourself to ask more often for what you want in business and life.
7. Get Uncomfortable – It’s essential that you get comfortable with being uncomfortable. When we’re comfortable, that’s a big clue that we’re not growing. The only way to experience real personal and business growth is to challenge yourself on a regular basis.
8. COI – Sit down and make a list of your “centers of influence.” These people are admired and respected in your community and area of business. Make a commitment to contact them and share your Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals. I will share from my own personal experience that this one tip has taken my business from “surviving” to “thriving.”
9. Pay Attention – To your clients and customers. Once you begin to gain momentum in your business, pay attention to what your clients and customers have to say. They will tell you what they want and how they want it delivered. Survey your clients at least once a year to find out what they love about your business and how you can better serve them.

These 9 success clues were basic threads that ran through each speaker’s presentation. Here’s what I love about them; They are low-cost to no-cost and as expected, come from within you. All you need to do is decide. Make a decision about achieving your own level of success (whatever that means to you) and follow these easy-to-implement clues to take your Big Idea, Dreams and Goals from “surviving” to “thriving.”

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2012 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, 2 FREE Reports and FREE MP3 now at Creating The Spark.

Are you making choices that reflect the independent You?

We are “reminded” on a daily basis about who we “should” be. The covers of various magazines remind us that we should look thin and trim at all times. Our family, friends, and colleagues have their ideas of who we “should” be as well.

There have been times in my life when I wanted to be more of someone else and less of who I was. In my 20′s, I was really into fashion and fitness. I wanted to look and dress like many of the women I saw on the cover of the most popular magazines. In my 30′s, when I would meet a successful person in the business world, I wanted to emulate a lot of who they were being as I had a strong desire to be a successful entrepreneur. In my 40′s, I began to feel the “call” to work with women to help them create their spark and realize their Big ideas, dreams and goals. Today, at 51, I’m still passionate about my work with women along with a sense of curiosity about what lies ahead. I know it’s essential to take what works for me and weave that into who I am at my core–my authentic self.

Unfortunately, there are women and young girls in many parts of the world that do not have any freedom. These women have no access to freedom of speech or independent actions whatsoever. Likewise, there may be a woman on your street or in your office who doesn’t feel she has the opportunity to exercise her independence. Her personal circumstances or “limiting” beliefs may leave her feeling “trapped” and unable to move forward with her dreams and desires.

It’s up to you and me to lead the way. In a few days, our country will celebrate its “independence.” We are fortunate to live in a country where we can say, wear, do, or be whatever we choose.

How about you?

– Are you living into your Big Ideas, dreams and goals?
– Are you taking advantage of the fact that you have the opportunity to be exactly who you are?
– Are you walking and talking your independent thoughts?

As you move into the weekend, I invite you to reflect on who you are being now in your life and who you would like to become. The oak and sycamore trees in the park were planted to grow in a straight line along the street. Once planted, they began to take on their own independent shape and size. They are living into their uniqueness and individual beauty. You are a beautiful, brilliant Smart Woman. You have special gifts to bring to the world. Let your own brand of independence and uniqueness shine through. Take advantage of your “Independence Day” and celebrate who you are because there will never be another You.

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 coaching business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report, FREE MP3 and be the first to hear about my exciting new program for coaches and consultants at Creating The Spark.

We were in Park City, Utah on a family ski vacation and this was Jenna’s first time on a snowboard. We felt she should take a lesson to learn the basics, however she assured us that by the end of the day, she would be joining us in a family ski. At 3pm, when I went to pick her up from the lesson, she was laying flat on the ground in the snow with a very unhappy look on her face. When she saw me she began to cry and stated firmly, “I quit. I mean everything. I’m quitting all my sports. I don’t like snowboarding and I don’t like sports.” I sat down in the snow beside her and decided it was best to say nothing at that moment. We sat there in silence for a few minutes and then with a sigh, she said, “I can’t quit. Our family doesn’t quit.” My reply? “That’s right.”

I was reminded (once again) how powerful the emotion of fear and failure can be. Whether you are an 8 year-old or a 50 year-old, the emotion can rear it’s ugly head and take control over your confidence, self-esteem and decision making. Fear and fear of failure can spill over into every aspect of your life without you even realizing it’s happening. Not only did Jenna feel a sense of failure from the current day’s activity but it began to weave it’s way into areas of her life where she felt completely secure.

I’ve experienced this in my own life. Something will happen to deflate my self-confidence. When this occurs, doubt begins to creep in and weave it’s way into my stream of consciousness. I start questioning myself and many of my decisions. From writing, public speaking or launching a new program, there have been times when I wanted to quit.

Has this ever happened to you?

All of a sudden something doesn’t go as you’d planned and then you begin to wonder if anything in your life or business is right. If so, don’t fret. It happens to all of us at one point or another. Here’s the silver lining: If this has happened to you, it means you are getting out of your comfort zone. You’re taking risks and trying something new. The key is when things don’t go exactly as you had planned or envisioned, you must try again. My husband Greg and I have a belief that our children don’t have to keep doing activities they no longer enjoy, however we don’t want them to allow fear to be the reason they quit. We both understand how powerful this emotion can be and how important it is to work through it if we are to succeed.

If you know that fear is weaving it’s way into your decision making and you’re having fleeting thoughts on giving up, here are a few smart solutions that will help you move through the fear and get you on the road to accomplishing your Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals:

1. Keep a Rave Reviews File – I have a file in my right desk drawer that holds all of the rave reviews and thank you cards I’ve ever received from the women I’ve worked with over the years. Any time I’m feeling like fear is present and I’m ready to throw in the towel, I pull out that file and begin to read the 100’s of complimentary notes that have been written about how I’ve supported and helped women on their journey.

2. Practice Gratitude – When you wake up each day and go to bed each night, think of at least 3 things you are grateful for. Research shows that expressing gratitude promotes happiness. If you feel happy and abundant, you’ll greet each day with a new inspiration to keep moving toward your goals.

3. Grab Some Downtime – Sometimes the best thing to do is get away from the situation. Get together with friends or family who make you laugh, watch a funny movie or do something that makes you feel happy and light at heart.

That afternoon, my logical brain wanted to sit and have a discussion with Jenna about why quitting is never the answer but I knew that would get us nowhere (with the exception of more tears). I immediately offered hot chocolate with plenty of whipped cream and away we went to warm up and dry her tears. The next day, Jenna happily went to her snowboard lesson and by day’s end she was barreling down the mountain. I could barely keep up…

Smart Women Never Quit.

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 coaching business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report, FREE MP3 and be the first to hear about my exciting new program for coaches and consultants at Smart Women Smart Solutions Coaching.

Making a decision to do something new or different in your life can get really uncomfortable. It triggers all of your “stuff” down deep inside. You may start to question everything you do and sometimes you wonder if you should continue with your new Big Idea, Dream, or Goal. After all, you may not be overjoyed with your current life situation, job, or business but at least it’s familiar—right? I remember a time in my life when I felt out of sorts, stuck and trapped, but at the same time I wasn’t sure if I had the courage to make the changes that were needed in order to feel whole, passionate and purposeful.

For example, when I decided to give birth to Smart Women Smart Solutions, there were many reasons why it wasn’t the most “ideal” time to begin something new. For example, I had my son who was a toddler and was pregnant with my daughter. My “stuff” seemed to pop up everywhere and follow me around with all of the reasons why now might not be the “right” time to start a new business. “Who will take care of my son?” “Now isn’t the right time” “What if it doesn’t work?” “What if I fail?” Sound familiar?

I have fears just like everyone else. Confronting your “stuff” is not much fun. It means you have to take a look at what is and decide if you have the courage to change and do what it takes to breakthrough to the next level in your life.

Over the last 2 decades, I’ve had times where I was surviving and times where I was thriving, and I will share with you that in order to “thrive”, sometimes you have to go through that “survive” period. It’s essential that you learn about yourself and see what changes or shifts you need to make in order to realize your Big Ideas, Dreams, and Goals. My grandfather used to say, “Joy, no matter where you go, there you are.” Well said Pops. Sometimes, we get in our own way and practice the art of self-sabotage without really even realizing it.

Here are a few solutions that have helped me with my “stuff” and I believe it can help you too:

1. Look for a “Thinking” Partner – Have someone on your side. Someone who can support you in a positive way when your “stuff” comes up. Having a “thinking” partner will help you to see how to move past your “stuff” and stay on the right course to accomplish your goals.

2. Find Successful Role Models – It’s essential to find people who’ve been successful and continue to be growth-oriented. One of the biggest mistakes I see people make as entrepreneurs is they stay in a vacuum. They try to figure out how to accomplish their dreams on their own. Let successful people show you the way. They have paved a road that will be much easier for you to follow. Attend conferences, join Mastermind groups, or hire a Coach to help you stay the course.

3. Make sure your Desire is Heartfelt – When the desire is there, the how-to will come. No matter how much “stuff” you are dealing with around this change you are making in your life, desire will always win if it’s authentic and truly what you want in life. Get really clear and focused on what you want to happen.

Living a life that allows you to achieve and have what you want and deserve is not always easy but it’s certainly worth the effort. Facing your “stuff” along the way not only helps you, but it helps all of the people who come in contact with you now and in the future. You will become a beacon of light that they can look to for guidance when they confront their “stuff.” Remember, it’s not trespassing if you cross your own boundaries.

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, 2 FREE Reports and FREE MP3 now at Creating The Spark .

We all have fear about something. Fear of heights, fear of snakes, fear of rollercoasters. 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 8-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.

*****
© 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 http://www.ProfitsWithPassion.com.

Last week, I attended a women’s conference where I had the opportunity to hear from a powerful group of women who’ve achieved an enormous amount of success in business.  Each woman represented a different industry from clothing, NY Times best-selling author to food service. What I found interesting was they all shared similar “gold nuggets” in their business advice and insight.  Who were these women?  Just to name a few, Liz Lange, Candace Bushnell and Nadja Piatka.  All three women have been a guest on the Oprah show and their businesses have become an international success.  They know business.
 
What I learned may surprise you.  You may think that what’s preventing you from achieving your Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals is something outside of your control.  It’s certainly easy to blame others or circumstances for lack of success in life and business.  I, too, have had times in my life when placing blame on outside circumstances was convenient but certainly not very helpful.  Once again, I was reminded by these super successful women that success is an “inside” game.
 
If you’ve been wondering how to take an ordinary idea and turn it into an extraordinary business, read on.  These 9 clues to success are guaranteed to give you the edge when it comes to making your Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals a reality:

1.  Decide – The women were very clear about their decision to become an entrepreneur.  There was no turning back.  They were focused on making their business dreams and goals happen.  Period.

2.  Live in Optimism – Each one of them spoke about the power of optimism and this one style of behavior helped them in times of challenge and struggle in their business (especially early on in the start-up phase).

3.  Maintain Unshakeable Belief – I had a mentor once who used to say, “people are looking for the chink in your armor.”  It’s not what you say about your business that will attract people; it’s how you feel about what you say.  These women had unshakeable belief about their business goals from the very start.

4.  Take Inspired Action – There is a difference between action and inspired action.  Do you get up every day with energy and passion for your business or do you hit the snooze button most days?  Do you feel inspired when you get into your office or does it feel like a “ball and chain?”  These women love what they do and it shows.

5.  Follow Your “Gut” – Whether you are in the start-up phase or ready to take your business to the next level of success, trust your instincts.

6.  ASK – This was BIG.  These women were not afraid to share their ideas with anyone.  They developed a marketing message about their mission and shared it everywhere they went with anyone who would listen.  Challenge yourself to ask more often for what you want in business and life.

7.  Get Uncomfortable – It’s essential that you get comfortable with being uncomfortable.  When we’re comfortable, that’s a big clue that we’re not growing.  The only way to experience real personal and business growth is to challenge yourself on a regular basis.

8.  COI – Sit down and make a list of your “centers of influence.”  These people are admired and respected in your community and area of business.  Make a commitment to contact them and share your Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals.  I will share from my own personal experience that this one tip has taken my business from “surviving” to “thriving.” 

9.  Pay Attention – To your clients and customers.  Once you begin to gain momentum in your business, pay attention to what your clients and customers have to say.  They will tell you what they want and how they want it delivered.  Survey your clients at least once a year to find out what they love about your business and how you can better serve them.

These 9 success clues were basic threads that ran through each speaker’s presentation.  Here’s what I love about them; They are low-cost to no-cost and as expected, come from within you.  All you need to do is decide.  Make a decision about achieving your own level of success (whatever that means to you) and follow these easy-to-implement clues to take your Big Idea, Dreams and Goals from “surviving” to “thriving.”

Anything is possible.  Everything is waiting for you.

*****

© 2010 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, 2 FREE Reports and FREE MP3 now at  http://www.CreatingTheSpark.com

If you are a woman entrepreneur, your goal is to create brand awareness with your ideal client. It’s essential that you develop a marketing “mantra” that communicates to people on a continual basis what benefits you offer your clients and how they will be transformed or better off after they work with you.
 
American Girl® does this beautifully. They have a unique product. It’s not just any doll. You have over 20 choices of dolls to choose from, and you can customize the doll’s look and personality. For example, you can create a doll that loves sports (Jenna’s favorite), nature, or one from a specific historical time period. The entire store is set up so you can experience all of the dolls in different settings and choose exactly which one is perfect for you.
 
Here are a few tips you can use to boost your brand awareness for your business. These are effective whether you are just getting started or have been in business for a few years.

1.  Create a logo – What is it that you do for your clients? Choose colors and a logo that represent your business. For example, my marketing has a lavender and ivory color scheme, and my logo is the nautilus shell because it’s my belief the nautilus shell is a near-perfect representation of a woman’s life. The American Girl® has the famous star graphic, as they want every girl to know she’s a star no matter who she is or what her preferences are.

2.  Create an “experience” – Think about the process you use with your clients. Is it enjoyable and relaxing? For example, if you are an attorney, think about what you can do to make their visit memorable. Maybe it’s serving their beverage in a beautiful glass with a colorful, thick napkin (maybe with your logo on it?). From the first phone call or meeting, you need to develop your stand-out style in order to create a lasting memory with people.

3.  Give them what they want – Make sure the services you offer are what the client wants and not what you want to serve them. When I first started my Women’s Success Circles over five years ago, I offered an all-day, one-time-per-month Success Circle. I had women who enrolled in the all-day Circle; however, most women could not devote an entire day to this process. Guess what? I was offering what I wanted them to have—not what they wanted. Once I created a half-day program, women flocked to the Circles. I had to make a change to what they wanted and give them the benefits and transformation they were looking for.

Now some of you may be reading this and thinking, “I’m just getting started, Joy. I’m a solo entrepreneur and not even close to being American Girl®.” Pleasant Rowland, the founder of American Girl®, was a teacher, writer and publisher of children’s books. She created the American Girl® idea out of her love and interest in history. She had no formal business training, and yet her Big Idea is known to millions of people. When you find a process or system that’s working, I invite you to notice how you can learn from it and use it to enhance your Big Idea, Dreams and Goals.

Anything is possible.  Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2010 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 http://www.profitswithpassion.com.

LeBron James had a difficult decision to make.  Stay in his home state and continue to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers or reach out of his comfort zone and try something new.  He has publicly shared that winning a championship title is his greatest dream.  He knew that he had to make decisions that were in alignment with his goals and that decision was not popular with many people around him.

I’ve been supporting women for over 5 years in my coaching work and one theme that continues to run through women’s lives is the ability to give themselves “permission” to be who they are and pursue their Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals.   I know women who work outside the home and want to be at home with their children and leave the workplace.  There are also women who are at home and they have a strong desire to own a business and combine their love of family with business ownership.  There are scores of women who have Big Ideas about what they’d like to do with their lives.  And yet, many do not take the steps to make their Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals a reality.  Why?  You may be uneasy about what others will think of you or fear you will be perceived as selfish or not loyal to those who depend on you.  You may have that familiar feeling of fear that creeps up every time you have a great idea.  Remember, fear is a natural partner to creativity.

When I was 29 years old and just beginning my journey as an entrepreneur, I had quite a few people who “encouraged” me to stay employed in my current job.  I remember a family member saying, “Joy, don’t rock the boat.”  This advice was out of love and caring for me but it wasn’t what I needed to hear.  I knew that this was the only way for me to feel happy and fulfilled. 

How about you?  Do you dream of doing something new or different with your life?   Here are a few quick tips on how you can get started:

1.  Take a Time Out – Give yourself permission to take some quiet, peaceful time to reflect on what is missing from your life.  Grab a pen and paper and jot down everything you feel abundant about in your life and then reflect on what would make it even more fulfilling.  It hasn’t always been easy for me to blend my family with my business dreams and goals; however I’ve found a way to have both.  Instead of thinking about how it won’t work, get creative and begin to think of how to make it possible.

2.  Ask Yourself a Question – Am I doing what I want in my life or am I doing what other’s think I should be doing in my life?

3.  Find Your Courage – Create a vision about how you would feel if you could have that goal or dream come alive in your life.  Breathe that in for a moment.  Create a vision board about your Big Idea, Dreams and Goals.  This process helps to keep the momentum alive and it’s a visual reminder to those around you.

I watched the interview with LeBron James when he announced his decision to join the Miami Heat.  Some will say it was all about the money and I’d be foolish to think that it wasn’t a motivator.  However, I noticed something different in the interview.  LeBron felt a certain loyalty and sadness about leaving the Cavaliers.  After all, he’d given them 7 years of his gifts and talent.  He realized his dream is to be a part of something new, something bigger, something that would allow him to exercise his gifts in a bigger way.  LeBron had to exercise his confidence and courage to embrace his own dream and take the steps to move closer to his vision.  You have the opportunity to embrace your confidence and courage as well.  You have permission to be exactly who you need to be, and make the necessary changes in order to live a life that is fueled with energy, passion and purpose.

Anything is possible.  Everything is waiting for you.

*****

© 2010 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 http://www.SmartWomenSmartSolutionsCoaching.com .

Back then, I was working as a business manager and marketing consultant for a very prominent physician in Los Angeles.  I was making decent 5 figure money, however I didn’t own my car and I was renting an apartment with a roommate to make ends meet.  The office where I worked was located in glamorous Beverly Hills, however the location of my desk inside the office was anything but glamorous.  I sat in an area that was a “pass through” for every employee so I never had any privacy.  If I leaned really far to my left, I could see some trees outside the window of my boss’s office. I longed for an office with a window view and an apartment all to myself. 

Today, along with my beautiful family, I have my own business, Smart Women Smart Solutions® with an office in my home that has a panoramic view of blue sky, trees and mountains and I’m about a mile from the Pacific Ocean.

What changed?  I changed.  One thing I know for sure is that nothing changes until you do.  If you want something in your life to change, then you have to be willing to make a change.  Sounds simple doesn’t it?  I must admit that it’s not that simple and along the way there have been bumps in the road.  However, I would not change a thing.

I can’t share my entire journey with you in this article however, I do want to share 6 of the key essentials  that took me from where I was – basically “surviving,” to today where I’m fully “thriving.”

1. Get Curious – I became an entrepreneur by accident.  I wasn’t earning the money that I truly desired and when it became apparent that I was never going to in my job, I started to think about another alternative.  I began dreaming, reading, researching and asking questions to anyone who might be able to give me some ideas on starting a business.  Today it’s so much easier because of the internet.  Google is at your fingertips to ask just about any question you can think of.

2. Get Moving – Once I landed on an opportunity that felt right for me in terms of money invested verses profit to be made, I began to look for ways to secure the money I needed to get started.  I was considered a “credit risk” to many banks and was turned down quite a few times before I secured my first loan. 

3. Keep Trying – Anytime you do something new, you’re bound to make mistakes and becoming an entrepreneur is no different.  You will make mistakes.  The key is to get up when you fall down and learn from the mistake.  I’ve made numerous mistakes over the years and I paid attention to what I did wrong and learned how to do it right the next time.

4. Keep Learning – Take classes in areas of learning to get you up to speed on new, innovative ways to build your business.  I enroll in classes all the time both offline and online to learn more about ways to increase my business and marketing.  With all of the teleclasses and webinars there are today, it’s become so easy to learn from anywhere.

5. Get Support – Having coaches and mentors is one of the best investments I’ve ever made.  Having a trusted “partner” on the journey who sees my situation through a different lens has been a big reason for my success.  Having a supportive spouse, family and friends has played a big role for me as well.  Make sure you surround yourself with people who champion your dreams.

6. Stay Focused – Decide what it is you want to accomplish and stay on course to make it happen.  I’ve veered off course myself many times and I have to remember the answer to “Why am I doing this?” so I can ground myself again and stay focused on my desired outcome.

I invite you to stop dreaming and start acting on your Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals.  One of my favorite quotes from Einstein is “Vision Without Execution is Merely Hallucination.”  Stop hallucinating.  Take action today and make it happen.

*****

© 2010 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 http://www.SmartWomenSmartSolutionsCoaching.com.

Where am I going with this today?  We are all unique.  We each have our own distinct gifts, talents and preferences.  We proudly announce to the world in a coffee shop exactly how we want our coffee (or tea).  However, let me ask you a question:  Do you boldly announce to the world who you are and show up in a way that offers your unique gifts and talents?  Would your closest friend, colleague, or family member describe you in such a way that would make you smile and be assured that you are showing the world who you are at your core?

Martha Graham once said, “For the more you know yourself the more you are able to impact others lives.  There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, which is translated through you into action.  And because there is only one you this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any medium, and the world will never have it.”

The first time I read this quote, it was energizing and frightening at the same time.  Why?  For me, it was energizing to know that there is only one me and I am unique.  It made me stop and wonder about my own talents and gifts.  It was also frightening.  I had to ask myself the tough questions:  Am I realizing my talents, my gifts?  Do I share them with the world in a meaningful way? 

Are you sharing your gifts and talents with the world in a meaningful way?  Are you taking action in 2010 on those Big Ideas, Dreams, and Goals?  I have the opportunity to spend time with women who are ready to embrace everything that is unique about them.  There is a group of women coming together next week to begin a Women’s Success Circle and I can tell you these women are ready to realize everything about their unique selves.  I feel honored to share this most important time with them.

There is only one you.  That’s powerful!  Take some time to explore your unique gifts, where your energies lie, and bring them to the world. 

By the way, when it was my turn, I ordered a tall coffee—their boldest blend.  It’s the same order every time.  I think that sums me up pretty well.  Simple, bold, and confident in what I want.”

Anything is possible.  Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2010 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, 2 FREE Reports and FREE MP3 now at http://www.CreatingTheSpark.com.