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.

If you want to remain queen of your domain, it’s essential that you surround yourself with supportive people who can guide you and brainstorm with you about new possibilities that will pave a path to success in your business. Here are some fast and easy ways to reach out for support:

1. Make a PB&A – Put together your own “Personal Board of Advisors.” Reach out and connect to people you know who are positive and looking to achieve success. Gather at least once a month by phone or in-person to exchange ideas and be accountable. I have a consistent group of people I speak with regularly to bounce ideas and support their growth as well.

2. Pack your bags – Yes, you read that right. Commit to a live event or retreat that takes you away from your domain for a few days. This is one of the most rejuvenating activities you can commit to for your business. It provides a new, fresh look – a new perspective. In my work with women, I sometimes refer to this as “reframing.” If you sit on your throne day after day looking at the same landscape, it dulls your creative process and keeps you stuck.

3. Commit to a “Thinking Partner” – It may be time to hire a coach. Working privately with a coach who has expertise in the areas where you feel stuck can be a good investment for your business. It can collapse your time frame and get you focused on where the momentum is to accelerate your success.

Being “queen of my castle” is a wonderful feeling –one that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. I’ve set my domain up to have plenty of support around me at all times so that it feels empowering, safe and secure. It allows me the freedom to think big and make grand plans for my domain. You can have this too.

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 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 .

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.

When you are passionate and energetic about an idea, you can come up with all kinds of names and catchy phrases for your products and services. The ideas seem to flow naturally once you put yourself in that creative space. The excitement about all of the possibilities in your future can sometimes overshadow the most important part of your business: The client or customer. We become so wrapped up in the idea of being a successful woman in business, we neglect to create a clear message about what we have to offer. Your ideal client becomes confused or uncertain on how you can help them (remember—WIIFM?) The most important thing that you can do is to put yourself in your ideal clients position and think about the benefits or outcome your client will receive when she works with you or purchases your product.

I’m working with some women right now who are on fire with ideas for their business. Recently, I shared some ideas to help them improve their “WIIFM” factor when marketing their products and services:

1. Mrs. Fields Knows Best – Debbie Fields understands the power of sampling. Her success came from this simple marketing strategy. Anytime you pass by one of her stores, someone walks out with a tray full of warm, steamy cookies and says, “Try one.” When you offer your service or product for free, it’s an easy way for your ideal client to quickly understand “WIIFM.” Over the last 7 years, I have offered your first “Creating the Spark™ Success Circle” for free, as women can clearly see the benefits and outcomes they will enjoy when they become a member.

2. Become Your Own Customer – Find some time to walk yourself through your own process. Does the system that you set up actually bring about the benefits you claim to offer? Does your business card, web site and other marketing materials clearly communicate what you offer and how it will benefit your ideal client? In today’s world, your message needs to be clear and people need to easily understand what you do.

I love the Stephen Covey quote, “Begin with the end in mind.” Smart Women have a clear vision of why they are in business and where they want their business to take them. They make sure their marketing communicates the “benefits” clearly and effectively. The next time you personally think about making a purchase, stop and listen to the questions in your own mind. I will bet that one of them is “WIIFM?”

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.

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.

Einstein’s quote helped me to realize there are two distinct parts to reaching your big ideas, dreams and goals. First you must have a Vision and second, you must have a Plan to accomplish the vision. One does not happen without the other. They are like partners working in tandem. Visionaries can be challenged by creating a plan and Planners sometimes lack the necessary vision to keep the dream alive.

Vision is the dream of your desired future. It’s a picture of something you hope for, something you can see clearly in your imaginative mind. A vision is a dream that inspires and motivates you.

Planning is logical, factual and realistic. A plan is a set of specific objectives and tasks broken down into achievable bite-size goals that you can reach in a targeted amount of time.

Without a passionate dream, a plan becomes idle busyness. Without a realistic plan, your vision becomes more like daydreaming.

Below are some tips and solutions that will help you during both the visioning and planning phases for your Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals for 2012:

VISION

1. Steal Some Solitude – Having some quiet alone time to focus on your vision is vital to the outcome. Block out a few hours, a day or even a weekend to get clear on what your dream looks like and what it feels like when it becomes a reality.

2. Clarity is Key – Becoming crystal clear is a must. Visioning about the who, what, where of your dream will help you later in the planning phase.

3. Use Tools to Make it BIG – Buy some large white post-it paper at your local supply store and colorful, vibrant markers to write or draw. I always say to women I work with: “How big can a dream become on an 8×11 piece of paper?”

4. Create a Vision Board – Once you are clear about what your dream is, a vision board is a productive way to keep the dream alive every day. I use this in my “Creating The Spark” Success Circles and women share that this one tool has helped them stay on course and reach their goals. Have it laminated and place it somewhere you’ll be reminded often or make it your wallpaper on your electronic devices.

PLANNING

1. Set Specific Goals – Here’s an example of a general goal: “I want to have more clients and make more money.” Here’s a specific goal: “I want to increase my income by 25% and work with 10 additional people who are my preferred ideal client by April 1.” Notice the difference? The first goal is general while the second holds a specific outcome and date. You are more likely to reach your goal if you are specific. It helps you to measure your progress along the way and reward yourself when you cross a milestone.

2. Make a commitment – Create time in your calendar to work on your goals. In the example above, it will be necessary for you to decide what marketing strategies will shorten your time frame to accomplish the goals and then schedule those into your calendar daily, weekly, monthly.

3. Know your areas of weakness – Everyone has areas of strength and weakness. Operate in your strengths and get support in the areas where you are weak. For example, I do not enjoy the technical aspect in my business or bookkeeping (two essential pieces to any successful business) so I have people on my team who are experts in this area and love doing these tasks. This is where having a coach could be helpful in helping you to identify your strengths and find creative support in the areas where you need help.

4. Evaluate and Course-Correct – Along the way, you may need to course-correct your original plan because of new learning or changes that occur along the way. Being an entrepreneur means you are open to new possibilities and ready for change when necessary.

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, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at Profits With Passion.

In my work with women, one of the essential exercises we do together is peel back the layers of their lives both personally and professionally to explore and discover their “gift” or what I sometimes refer to as their “genius.” You may be reading this and thinking, “I don’t know what my gift is” or “I don’t have a gift.” You do have a gift. You have genius inside You.

Once you uncover your “gift”, life and business become far more enjoyable. When you have a business that allows you to work in your area of genius, you will have the opportunity to earn more money because you will be doing what comes naturally to you. When you live in your genius, you feel happier and healthier.

I know you want to be happier, healthier and make more money in 2012—right?

In his book, “The Big Leap” Gay Hendricks talks about 3 zones that we live in: The Zone of Competence, The Zone of Excellence and The Zone of Genius. Most people live in the Zone of Competence or the Zone of Excellence. Why? It’s comfortable and it’s safe. Making a decision to live in your Zone of Genius means getting a little uncomfortable initially. You’ll have to admit to yourself and eventually the world that you actually have a gift and you’ll begin to say “No” more often to opportunities that are outside your Zone of Genius. Women are nurturers by nature so “No” can be a challenge, however once you give yourself permission to do so, you’ll be delighted you did.

Here’s a quick exercise to begin the process of uncovering your “gift” – your “genius,” so 2012 will become easy and effortless:

1. Grab a pen and paper.

2. Steal some quiet time and make a list of everything you do in your business and I mean everything (sharpening pencils, filing, etc).

* Some women carry this list around with them for a few days to get crystal clear about all of those “hidden” tasks you are doing. If you have a smart phone, you can also voice record as you do each task and write it down later.

3. After you complete the list, I invite you to draw a circle around the tasks that:

* Seem effortless when you perform them
* Other people compliment you on how well you perform a task
* Brings immediate cash flow into your business
* Give you a surge of energy and happiness

You should have no more than 4 items circled. When I do this exercise with women, they typically have a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 40 tasks on their list. There are only 2-4 tasks that answer all 4 of the questions above.

Yes, laundry has to be done, dishes washed and bills paid. If you give yourself permission to stay in your “genius” and live in your “gift,” you may find that your income will suddenly allow you to have more support in getting those other tasks accomplished.

This was a big shift for me several years ago. It is one of the changes that supported my big “leap” into living a life of service and support.

Go ahead. Give yourself permission to take ownership of your gift, your genius. Embrace and enjoy the abundance that 2012 holds for 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 life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at Profits With Passion.

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?

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)

2012 is a leap year and I’d love to see you “soar” to the level of success you dream about so I’ve created a very special, private, intimate 2-day retreat at a rejuvenating spa location in Southern California to support you in reaching your Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals.

The Smart Women SOAR 2-Day Retreat
January 27 & 28, 2012
www.SmartWomenSolutions.com/retreat

During this 2-day retreat, you will:

• Unearth yourself from the daily details of your work, step back and look at the BIG picture – your business and your life
• Clear the decks and get focused on how to move your business forward effectively
• Learn the most important qualities that women entrepreneurs need to succeed more than ever
• Get real CLARITY on prioritizing the ideas you have – so that you get results instead of just more ideas!
• Discover how to work Smarter not Harder in your business
• Identify what motivates you, drives you and how to use it to fuel your success every day
• Create a fool-proof system to stay out of busy syndrome and stay in productive each and every day (I’ve got a proven system I used to organize my day for success both personally and professionally.)
• Get crystal clear on your INNER game of success (all that stuff that goes on inside your mind – self-doubt, fears, lack of money talk – the stuff that keeps you from being the brilliant, confident wise woman you are)
• Learn how to stay grounded in who you are as a woman entrepreneur, never compromising your values and enjoy your own brand of success

But you must know that this intimate, private retreat is only open to 10 women who make the decision to join me and 3 spots are already taken!

PLUS……if you register before December 30, 2011, I’m gifting you with a free, relaxing Swedish massage during the retreat!

www.SmartWomenSolutions.com/retreat

If you’re a woman entrepreneur who’s ready to claim your own personal brand of power and build a profitable business working with clients you love, then you won’t want to miss this amazing 2-day experience with me and a small, intimate group of like-minded women!

www.SmartWomenSolutions.com/retreat

To your soaring success in 2012,

Joy Chudacoff

PS. Isn’t it about time you gave yourself the gift of a peaceful, relaxing, retreat AND enjoy a free, one-hour Swedish massage? Grab your spot now – 3 have already been taken!

www.SmartWomenSolutions.com/retreat

For example, making a commitment to “niche” yourself and serve a specific target market is unsettling to some entrepreneurs. There’s a fear of losing business or potential clients when you make this bold move. Oftentimes, I hear the phrase, “Everyone can benefit from my service!” While that may be true, if you want to attract more clients and increase your income, it’s essential to overcome your fear of commitment once you’re clear on who your ideal client is.

Why? With the enormous amount of information we receive each day, it can be challenging for people to make qualified referrals to you if they aren’t sure exactly who you serve. Helping your referral sources understand exactly how your business helps others can boost business quickly. Making a commitment to serve a specific target market also keeps your marketing efforts clear, directed and focused.

I, too, experienced the fear of commitment in my business early on. When Smart Women Smart Solutions® was in the early stages of growth, I coached women of all ages (and a few men too!). I started out with the belief that my service was for women of all ages and stages of life. What I learned from this experience was that I love working with women entrepreneurs in service-based businesses who are motivated to accelerate their growth and income. This provided me the clarity I needed for my marketing message which saves time and money.

If you’re ready to commit to your business and attract your ideal client, here are some tips to get you going:

1. Keep a Journal – After every client interaction, take some time to reflect on what worked well and any areas that might need improvement. Did you enjoy being with the client? Did you enjoy the process? Was it smooth and seamless?
2. Peel Back The Layers – What part of the process did you like best? Do you enjoy the process more in the beginning? Middle? End? Where do you sparkle? Where does your genius show up?
3. Create an Ideal Client Profile – Over time, you’ll begin to see similarities in the clients you enjoy working with. It could be a targeted age range, or specific industry. Notice if you are helping them with a specific challenge. The key is to create a profile with as much information as you can.
4. Get The Word Out – Once you become clear about who you serve best, it’s time to get this message out to the world. Make sure all your marketing materials reflect your ideal client profile – from your business card to your web site.

Overcoming my fear of commitment to serve a specific target market wasn’t easy, however using the steps I shared with you helped me get clear and focused on who I should be spending my time with and understand the importance of this for my business. When I’m working in my genius with my ideal client, it’s magical. It’s why I’m so passionate about the work I’m doing in the world with women and why the business has grown to where it is today. It can happen for you too. Just make the decision and take the leap.

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 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.

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.

In my work with women, I often suggest they take an exit ramp from their day to day routine to contemplate where they are now and where they want to go – both in their business and personal lives. This is typically met with a big gulp, heavy sigh and: “You mean alone, by myself?” “I don’t have time!” “Who will take care of everything while I’m gone?” Because you play many roles in your life, it can be challenging to imagine leaving your current life for even an hour, much less an entire weekend. In my own experience, it is one of the best ways to find crystal clear clarity and focus around designing both a business and personal life that reflects your core values.

When you have the opportunity to step away from your day-to-day responsibilities and open your mind to quiet, peaceful reflection, magical things happen; you manifest answers to nagging questions, generate ideas about what you can change and accept what you cannot change.

Here’s the interesting fact: “Carmaggedon” came and went without a major glitch. Why? Because the city of Los Angeles prepared for the traffic interruption.

If you are ready to get crystal clear on the vision for your future, I invite you to take these 5 action steps to plan your exit for 24-48 hours (or longer if you can manage it):

1. Set a date – Pull out your calendar and decide when you want to take an exit ramp from your daily life. There will never be a good time so pick a date that works reasonably well for you.

2. Choose an environment – Where will you retreat? Do you enjoy the mountains, ocean? Do you want a spa retreat or just the basics?

3. Give everyone plenty of notice – This is an essential key. Make sure everyone who’s a key player in your life knows when you are leaving and returning. When everyone understands the plan, they are more likely to jump on board and be supportive of your needs.

4. Pack your bag for success – You’ll need very little. Comfy clothes, shoes for walking, a journal, pens, highlighters, oversized white post-it paper for visioning, colorful markers, your favorite tunes. (I always include a favorite bubble bath gel as I’m a big fan of taking baths.)

5. Shut down – If you want to have 100% success, I invite you to completely shut down while you are away. Leave your emails, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn behind. You may need your phone for emergencies or to call your family at bedtime to say goodnight but otherwise, press the off button.

As I write this article, I’m sitting at my desk enjoying my own “Hermaggedon.” Yep, my hubby and kids went to Palm Desert this weekend to visit grandparents. I stayed behind to vision, create, write and prepare for my preferred future.

You can do it too. You can have your own “Hermaggedon.”

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.

1. You save more time because you know exactly who you’re looking for.
2. You save more money because you spend your marketing budget wisely.
3. When you provide a great service, you’ll get highly qualified referrals from your satisfied clients to people they know who have the same problem.

Here’s a quick case study to illustrate how effective this is:

In our community, little league baseball is quite popular. From February through June, parents spend 6-10 hours a week taking their kids to and from practice as well as attending games. It’s a huge commitment and one many parents take seriously.

Enter Yoga Johnny.

Yoga Johnny is a pitching coach. He works with children who have a desire to be a pitcher in little league baseball. Yoga Johnny is a very smart guy. Baseball is played in every area of Los Angeles however, Johnny understands that our community is one where parents will do (and pay) just about anything to help their kids stand on the mound and pitch.

Johnny knows exactly who his ideal client is. It’s not children who want to be pitchers. It’s parents whose children want to be pitchers and are willing to pay for this level of coaching. He simply hangs out at the park where all the games and practices are located. When I think about Johnny’s marketing model, it’s really quite brilliant:

1. He’s saving time because he knows exactly where his ideal client hangs out.
2. He’s saving money because he only markets to his ideal client. He doesn’t need to spend time running all over Los Angeles looking for his ideal client. They are all nestled together right here in one community.
3. He continues to get a steady stream of new clients because everyone talks about the results their child gets when they work with Yoga Johnny.

Johnny also uses another effective marketing tool: Package pricing. You cannot hire Johnny one time. He requires that you commit your child to months of his training in order to see the desired results. He has a proven system that he uses and he doesn’t deviate from it. He knows what works for him and the clients he serves.

I invite you to take a few minutes and answer these 3 questions:

1. Have I identified who my ideal client is? Can I describe her/him to someone? What problem do I solve for this person?

3. Am I asking for rave reviews from my satisfied clients? Am I asking if they know others who might benefit from working with me?

Smart Women Entrepreneurs can learn a lot from a guy like Yoga Johnny.

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.

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.