Magnetize New Business, Part Four

Time to wrap up this 4-part series which I've written to help you stop the struggle and increase your effectiveness, efficiency and ultimately, your results. And, because tomorrow is my birthday AND I'm a giver, I've got a free gift for you, too! And in return, I request that you do something for me {like I said, it's my birthday} ... First, though, let me give first and share with you Keys 7 and 8:

Key #7: Double Your Self-Confidence. I've said this a few different ways throughout this series: Happy people ... Attractive people ... Ultimately, magnetism and attractiveness comes down to how much you like yourself. The more you like yourself, dare I say love yourself {and I do}, the more others will like you, too. I'm not talking conceit or arrogance. I believe those two characteristics are symptomatic of an insecure person. In fact, when I see someone throw a fit or become incredibly irritated, those to me are indicators that person isn't happy with themselves. I recently said to my friend, Hal Elrod, "I really want you to be happy." His response was incredibly telling, "I'm always happy." That is my experience of him, and his words were true. He really is always happy. He's happy because he has done the work to keep his self-confidence and self-esteem high, and it is apparent to all those who come into contact with him. Your ability to be happy in the face of unhappy and challenging circumstances is in direct proportion to your self-confidence. The more you work on yourself, the happier and more magnetic you will be. The work is free, the results are priceless. Worth it? I'd say so! I've done a fair amount of work in this area myself, and it all started with this book {which I highly recommend you read, re-read, and re-read until you've met your maker}. The Self-Confidence Formula from the book is one place I'm directing you, because it will work like a charm ... and so will you!

Key #8: Be authentic. It is counterintuitive to be authentic with others, and yet, when we open ourselves up and show our deepest desires and fears to others, we become more human. In fact, the more authentic you are ... the more comfortable you are in your own skin and show it, the enticing you will be to others. We're taught to keep our troubles and our big goals to ourselves, and I'm in no way suggesting you go completely open kimono and tell everyone all of your problems or your goals {there's a time and a place ... let common sense be your guide}, but it's okay now and then to say, "I'm having a rough time" and in the right space and time, with the right person, you will endear yourself to them in a way like no other. On the flip side, sharing what you're most excited about: such as a big win or a BHAG {you'll find more about those in here} you're working on, will cause the person you're talking to to also get excited! Ultimately, you're looking to connect in the best way possible. I will leave you with this thought: 

You can't do the wrong thing with the right person; and you can't do the right thing with the wrong person. {Tweet this!} 

So, be authentically yourself and the right people will think you're the fa-shizzle.

Whew! What a series! By now you should should be feeling amazing, attracting new business and growing more prosperous and profitable by the way. Good for you! I'm delighted to think it's true, and would be ever happier to hear about your results... Send me an email and let me know how this series has helped you: Honoree {at} coachhonoree {dot} com.

Now for your free gift: If you haven't read my first book, Tall Order!, you can download a *free* copy in any digital format you choose by going to Smashwords.com, searching for the book, and using Coupon Code FW55Q to receive it with my compliments. Enjoy! {P.S. When you love it, will you kindly leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads? Thanks!}

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What We All Can Learn from Sara Blakely & Spanx

***After you read this post, be sure to visit me at my new home here.***

I was so excited to see Sara Blakely on the cover of the Forbes Billionaires issue two years ago that I made three trips to Barnes & Noble to buy it.

I've followed Spanx and Sara over the past decade because I'm a business owner and entrepreneur and also because, well, I'm a prime candidate for Spanx. I watched Sara appear on The Donny Deutsch Show, I've noticed her displays expand and expand in Nordstroms. I've helped Spanx grow by purchasing multiple products for myself and my friends. Bottom line, I'm a fan.

{Book Review} Money: A Love Story by Kate Northrup

***After you read this post, be sure to visit me at my new home here.***

Kate Northrup didn't know it, but she was "my people." I saw her on Facebook, watched her videos, and resonated with almost every word.

So when I saw she had written a book, I couldn't wait for it's release. Literally. I sent her an email, requesting to be an advanced reader in exchange for a review. Not 24 hours had passed before I had a reply and an ebook of my very own to dive into.

I've read financial books from across the spectrum. From Dave Ramsey to Suze Orman to Robert Kiyosaki, if there's a book on how to make, spend, invest, save or multiply money, I've read it {or I want to}. Money: A Love Story, therefore, was right up my alley. It arrived just in time for me to do my laundry, but I'd made a promise to read it, therefore the laundry would have to wait. {Darn.}

I expected a book that included budgeting, investing, and making money. Money: A Love Story did not disappoint. I believe "repetition is the mother of skill" and the anecdotal evidence about how mastering the basics eventually turns one into a master is hard to ignore.

What I didn't expect what the open kimono style of writing Kate used when sharing her story. She shared her deepest feelings, including her fears and vulnerabilities around money. I thoroughly enjoyed just how damn cute she is, too! She was charming and funny all while talking about her businesses, relationship with her mom, and with her now-fiancé Mike! I felt like I was having an intimate conversation with a girlfriend, getting the inside scoop on a taboo topic. It was eye-opening to hear Kate's perspective on deserving a fantastic relationship with money, and I loved her tips on how to get more comfortable and even make friends with money. After all, you can't expect something you hate or are afraid of to want to hang out with you, right?

I was pretty excited to even have a major a-ha moment! I'm been on the fence about how to proceed with something in my business life, and right at the end the book, Kate said something that hit me right between the eyes:

"I don't want to spend any of my precious time ... where I can only get paid once for the effort I put in."

 And there is was, the answer to my dilemma. Problem solved. Time to proceed.

Money: A Love Story is a gem of a read. Even if you've read "all of the other books" there is at least one major distinction, lesson or light-bulb moment waiting for you that will literally change your trajectory. What are you waiting for? Get it and start reading it today!

Sample Sunday: Tall Order!

Following is an excerpt from the book Tall Order! Seven Master Strategies to Organize Your Life and Double Your Success in Half the Time.

“Every business person is looking for the BEST way to get to the next level. This book tells you how to do it – short, sweet, and NOW! ~Jeffrey Gitomer, author, The Little Red Book of Selling and The Little Red Book of Sales Answers

Coach’s Observation: Here’s what happens when you take control of your environment, including everyone and everything in it:

• You’ll suddenly have tons of more energy! Things will happen faster, easier, and better than ever before.
• You will be much more creative!
• You’ll create synergy with the old and new people in your life, which will automatically take you higher.
• You’ll have much less stress! As you streamline the details of your life, you get rid of the old baggage and create more room for new and exciting opportunities.

In coaching, we talk a lot about “tolerations.” Tolerations are those things that zap your energy, annoy you, and drain away your effectiveness, happiness and success. They make you less attractive to yourself, and therefore, less attractive to others. You have three choices with tolerations: change them, eliminate them, or accept them.

Your environment, including the people in it, is crucial to your success or failure. Think about each person in your life: are they supportive of your vision? Your goals? Do they ask you empowering, and if necessary, tough questions? Or do they predict failure, doom or worse? Be aware of what your friends, family, and associates bring to your life. If they are not empowering you to be your best, perhaps its time for them to go! You won’t need to necessarily usher people out of your life, just keep your distance. Look at it this way: there are many people you want to stay in touch with, people you admire … Those relationships that are no longer in your best interest can be allowed to fade away. It’s that easy.

Is your home your sanctuary? Do you feel comfortable, relaxed, creative and alive there? If not, make it the way you want it to be. Again, it is your life!

By taking control of your immediate environment, you reclaim your personal power and set a healthy focused foundation for your future.

“Surround yourself with people who are going to lift you higher.” ~Oprah Winfrey

Honorée has dedicated her life to being a positive force for good. She writes personal and professional growth books for professionals, and The Successful Single Mom books series. As an executive coach and corporate trainer, she turns service providers into rainmakers, average producers into rock-stars, and dreams into reality. For more information on how she can specifically help you or your organization, click here.

Money, Cash, Dinero, Pesos, Dollars

Do you feel like this about money?

Or like this?

How would you like to feel?

Chances are, no matter how well you've been doing over the past couple of years, you have some stress around money, even if it's the stress of hearing about it from other people or on the news. The truth is, how you feel about money and how much money you have is up to you. There are systematic actions you can take that will ensure you have an abundance of money, if not now than in the future. 

When is the best time to put a financial plan in place? Twenty years ago. The second best time is today.

As a personal transformation expert, one of the areas I affect change in people is helping them feel differently about money and act differently about money, their money. 

To accumulate money and personal wealth at any level, you must engage in the following habits until they become part of who you are:

• The Habit of Saving means you pay yourself first. Take 10% (start with 1% or 5% if you must) and put it away. When you have the equivalent of six months of expenses in savings, take the additional money you save each month and invest it for long-term growth. Cash is king and those who have it can capitalize on opportunities. Those who don't are at the mercy of those who do. Even if you save $25 a month, in a year you'll have $300 more than you do now. If you save $5000 a month you were spending on "whatever," at the end of the year you'll have $60,000 you didn't have before. Whatever end of the spectrum you're on, become a saver rather than a spender. In time, saving becomes a fun, fun game to play.
• The Habit of Living Debt-Free means you pay off your debt, then stay out of debt. It's easy to go down the credit rabbit hole. It's instant gratification that ends up costing you so much. The weight of debt is psychological and costs you so much more than the actual money. If you're in debt, set up a repayment program and then get busy making money and focus only on how much you want to make. Oh yes, and stop using credit!
• The Habit of Simplification means you ask "do I want it or need it?" Do you really need 500 channels? A bunch of stuff you neither use or need? To eat out every day? Just asking. If not, get rid of what you don't really need, stop mindlessly spending, and save that money - whether it's $10 or $10,000.
• The Habit of Being Conservative means you act in flush times as you do in scarce times. In flush times, it's easy to hire more people, buy more things, take on more debt and responsibility. I've seen my clients begin to make more money in recent times, but still being conservative in the ways they are spending and investing their newly-realized capital. Perhaps if we had all been more cautious in the flush years, that would have made 2007 to the present much easier.
• The Habit of Using Experts means ... you use experts. It's useful to have a financial advisor, insurance provider, CPA, and estate planning attorney. This team of people, your team, helps you to make sound decisions. They aren't emotionally involved and will make recommendations based upon the bigger, long-term picture and your ultimate goals. You may also need a business attorney, intellectual property attorney, bookkeeper, business valuation expert, and investment banker. Build your structure and your team to support where you're going, not where you are. It's never too soon to put your team in place.
• The Habit of Positive Expectation means you act, think and talk positively. Here's my own personal policy: "I talk and think only of abundance. If you have a tale of woe, please keep it as I don't want it." I'm constantly focused on my goals, objectives and outcomes to the point of just not having time to entertain drama, idle chitchat and gossip. If you're on a mission and focused on achieving your big vision, you won't either.