Recently, I made a trip to the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) here in Los Angeles to renew my driver’s license. I made a smart choice by scheduling an appointment for my renewal rather than “winging it” as a “walk in.” As I approached the DMV in my car, I saw scores of people forming a line that wrapped around the outside of the building. As you can imagine, my heart began to race at the prospect of standing in a line that long. I began a mental scan of my “to do” list in my head with a bit of anxiety about how lengthy this process might be.
After parking my car, I approached the line of at least 75 people and asked one man, “Is this the line for appointments?” The man replied, “Oh no, that’s inside.” I took a deep sigh of relief and continued on through the front door. I immediately saw the “Appointment Line” which had only 2 people ahead of me. This got me thinking about how Smart Women understand the value of making an appointment rather than “winging it” in every area of their lives.
Have you ever wondered what the real secret to success is? Do you ever read articles about women entrepreneurs who’ve accomplished their dreams and think, “Now how did she do that?” I know I have. I’m always in search of better, more effective ways to achieve my goals both personally and professionally and I look to women who’ve walked the path of entrepreneurship before me. The good news is success leaves clues and if you’re open to hearing what other successful women entrepreneurs share about their journey, you can save yourself a lot of time (& money).
One morning last week, I was helping my 11 year-old son, Jack, get ready for a day of skiing during our family vacation. It was sunny, 55 degrees and gorgeous outside. I handed my son his face mask and he looked at me puzzled and said, “Mom, there is no way I’m going to need this today–have you looked outside?”
One of the questions I’m frequently asked by women entrepreneurs is, “When I meet someone who is a potential referral source and/or ideal client, how do I mention my business without feeling pushy?” Great question! Being able to communicate your marketing message with confidence is key to attracting more clients, increasing your income and becoming known for your expertise.
Recently, I had the opportunity to spend the day strategizing with a group of smart women entrepreneurs from different parts of the world. It was an energizing day focused on topics such as effective marketing, clear messaging to attract your ideal client, time management and money.
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.
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.
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.
Today, I wanted to give you something special, yet practical, that you could use right away to create momentum in your business and positive energy in your life as you step into 2012.
Commitment. It’s a powerful word that conjures up a mix of emotions and can be a scary thought– especially in business. Being committed to something means you’re choosing not to be committed to something else – sounds simple, right? In essence, you’re pledging or engaging in a relationship to the exclusion of others. In my work supporting women entrepreneurs, I find fear of commitment in business can make the difference between mediocre results and extraordinary results.
While vacationing in Park City this summer, I was enjoying my morning coffee on the deck overlooking the majestic mountains when all of a sudden, several hot air balloons “popped” into my view. The colors of each balloon were bright, vivid, and unique. Some were like rainbows; others were bright red, yellow and gold. They rose to varying heights in the sky, each one navigating their own unique path around the valley. This got me thinking about how Smart Women’s Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals are a lot like hot air balloons.
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