Smart Women Avoid The Perils of Being Queen of Their Castle

One of the most exciting parts about being a woman entrepreneur is you become “queen of your own castle.” You sit on the throne in your tower (sometimes referred to as the corner of the dining room table) making decisions for your domain (your solo-business) and over time, this can become a lonely existence. It’s not easy making all the decisions by yourself and it’s possible that your decisions are not as creative or innovative as they might be if you had a supportive group of people around who care about your success.

In my work, I’ve discovered that women find asking for help risky as they see it as a sign of weakness. They create a belief that they are the only ones having a struggle and this could not be further from the truth. Everyone is questioning some aspect of their business. Whether it’s to attract more clients, increase their income or expand their programs and services – women entrepreneurs have many of the same challenges.

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Smart Women and the “WIIFM” Factor

Do you know what “WIIFM” stands for? Sure you do! You ask yourself this question every time you think about making an investment or purchase - “What’s In It For Me?” We purchase everything based on the “benefits” that we will receive when we use the service or product.

Let me give you an example: Last week, I purchased a new bicycle because I want to start taking long bike rides with my family. There was one benefit I was looking for with the purchase of this new bike: comfort. It had to be comfortable. When I finally found the bike that met my comfort requirement I was delighted, however right next to it was a bike that was a beautiful shade of purple which made my heart skip a beat. I sampled both bikes and in the end bought the bike that was a shade of silver because it was clearly the most comfortable ride. The color was a “feature” not a “benefit” for me. Remember the greatest “benefit” for me was comfort.

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What Smart Women Can Learn From Einstein About Reaching Goals

My favorite quote by Einstein is “Vision without execution is merely hallucination.” The first time I read this I was surprised at the glaring truth to this simple statement. At the same time, I realized it’s sometimes easier said than done.

Goal setting, New Year’s resolutions, dreams, and big ideas-these are heavy on people’s minds right now as we cross the threshold into 2012. Everyone wants to make up for lost time and start off the year on a course to reach their biggest goals and why not? It’s a leap year which makes it even more exciting to think about soaring to new heights. I’m right there with you. I, too, have big ideas, dreams and goals.
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The Smart Women SOAR 2-Day Retreat

What would it feel like to claim your own personal brand of power, build a profitable business working with clients you LOVE? What would it feel like to be completely supported by a real-life mentor who cares about your success? What if you had the exact steps to create consistent cash flow and enjoy a freedom based business and lifestyle?

www.SmartWomenSolutions.com/retreat/

What would it feel like to effortlessly blend your personal life with a business you are so passionate about? What if you could create your own personal blueprint that includes every aspect of your life? (self-care, family, spouse/partner, children, friends, business and community)

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Smart Women And The 5 Fundamental Questions for Business Success

I’m finding that many women entrepreneurs are reflecting on their year and a question that seems to be on the minds of many is: “What are tools and strategies I need for my business to take a big leap in the New Year?” As I reflect on this question, I realize the answer is two-fold. If you are serious about making 2012 the year that you soar in business and make big leaps in income, you must first ask yourself a few questions (and get honest with yourself about the answers):

1. Is my business Viable? Do people want my product or service? This is where doing some research on your industry can be quite valuable. Just because “no one else is doing it” doesn’t always mean it’s a great business opportunity. Yes, Steve Jobs did quite well being “the first” in his industry but many times success can be yours by taking an existing business concept and improving on it. Also, find out what the range of fees or prices are in your industry. Make sure you price your winning product or service so people will be clamoring to get their hands on it.

2. Is my business Visible? Visibility is a huge key to success. You may be the best coach, lawyer, virtual assistant or pet sitter in the world however, if you don’t have a marketing plan that is designed to get you seen and heard, you will remain the best kept secret in town! Getting your product or service out there in a big way makes a huge difference in how much growth you can expect in the coming year.

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Smart Women Have Their Own “Hermageddon”

Did you hear about “Carmageddon?” Several weeks ago, the 405 freeway (noted to be one of the busiest freeways in the nation) that runs through Los Angeles closed for a weekend period of 53 hours for repairs. This created a frenzy here in Los Angeles called “Carmageddon” which forced residents to think creatively about their weekend travel plans. Many people (including yours truly) decided to stay home and avoid any hassles.

I made a firm decision that if I couldn’t get to my destination on foot or by bicycle, I’d just stay home. This got me thinking about how Smart Women create their own “Hermageddon” to relax, recharge, renew and repair their own lives.

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Smart Women Make a Difference

I struggled a bit this week on what I wanted to share with you. I place a high value on making sure I give you timely information that you can use right away to take your life and your business to the next level of fulfillment, happiness and success. On the one hand, I wanted to write about June being the halfway mark in your business and now is the perfect time to take a mid-year inventory of what’s working and what’s not working so you can make the shifts necessary to meet your goals by the end of the year.

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Smart Women Make a Great First Impression

A few days ago, our family made a trip to the local bank here in our community so that our children could open their first savings account. The piggy banks were overflowing with money due to various visits from the tooth fairy, as well as rewards for all of their good deeds around the house. What happened when we entered the bank made a big impression on me and got me thinking about how Smart Women entrepreneurs always make a good first impression. [Read more...]

Speak Your Way To More Business

An Interview with Susan Levin, founder of Speaker Services and International Marketing Consultant 
 
Are you a seasoned expert with years of advice and experience to pass along? Whether you are a coach, an executive, educator or salesperson you could be missing out on an important source of your income: THE SPEAKING CIRCUIT.

Register right now at:   

http://www.smartwomensolutions.com/joyasks

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Smart Women Face Their Fear

A few days ago, I was cleaning out a backpack that my daughter used last summer when we were in Park City, Utah on vacation. This backpack was one that she wore every day to her skateboarding class. At the bottom of the backpack, I found a piece of crumpled paper and pulled it out. It was an evaluation form from her skateboarding instructor, Drew, with these comments: “Learn to relax and face fear. Trust in Yourself.” This got me thinking about how Smart Women learn to face their own fears.

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Smart Women Dream Big

A few days ago, I was visiting my daughter’s second grade class and the teacher started a discussion about Martin Luther King and the importance of having dreams. The children’s ideas about dreams were interesting, “Being able to make your own decisions,” “Peace in the world, no war,” “Stop cutting down trees to save the environment.” Then the teacher went a step further and gave them a piece of paper to help them create their own “Dream Story Organizer.” I thought I’d share that with you today.

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Smart Women and The Way Things Are

Recently, I traveled to the East coast to see my Dad who’s experiencing some health challenges.  I spent a considerable amount of time in medical facilities and meetings with physicians.  One morning when I was feeling tired and in need of some self-care, I decided to visit the local salon for a wash and blow dry.  When I arrived, there was no wait and I was immediately taken back to the area where they wash your hair.  As I took my seat in the chair, I asked my signature question.  It’s the same question I ask everyone I come in contact with when I’m out and about: “How is everything going?”  This one question typically has three answers:

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