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.
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.
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. 
In my work with women, a frequent question is, “How important is it for me to finely niche my marketing message?” My answer is always, “Extremely important.” The reason is 3-fold:
A few days each week I exercise with a few Smart Women in a park near my home that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. It’s a beautiful setting that lends itself to taking your mind off the muscle pain and exhaustion from the workout! We are surrounded by magnificent sycamore and oak trees that stand strong and tall. The trees were planted and spaced apart in a very methodical way; however over time, they grew into their own independent and unique natural form with branches and limbs flowing in many different directions. This got me thinking about how Smart Women have the opportunity to stand tall and strong. You are independently unique from every other living thing on the planet. Let me ask you a question:
One question that I hear frequently from the women I support is “How do I find and attract more new clients?” After all, new clients are necessary for your business to survive and thrive. The good news is, “new” clients are closer than you think. What do I mean? Have you ever heard the old phrase, “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush?”
Women are the most creative beings on earth. You have inspiring ideas and daring dreams, however it can sometimes be a challenge to get the dreams out of your head and onto paper so you can design a plan to make it happen. Most likely, your “to-do” list is overflowing and your Big Idea hasn’t found a way to make it to the top of the list.
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