The Talking Giraffe

I Could Be Rich Just Like Her - Part 2 of 2

2011-03-08T11:05:00.000-08:00

Picture it. A young mother with no business experience uses her passion and talent to start her own business. People told her that she was crazy. They told her that her business could never survive the competition. But she was headstrong and determined to make a go of it. After years of hard work, she is now an entrepreneurial icon who inspires others to follow in her footsteps. "I could be rich just like her!" you say to yourself as you stare at the words on this page, "But how the heck did she do that?" you are probably wondering.

I'm going to tell you how she did it because there are no secrets to her level of success. All you have to do is follow in 4 of her enlightened footsteps:

Footstep #1
Choose a business based on your own personal interest and passion.
A lot of things look like great opportunities-and that's because they are. Any business worked correctly and diligently will bring forth some sort of income, but very little joy on a daily basis. If you stop focusing on just the monetary promises, you will easily discover that certain opportunities may or may not be the right one for you. Your own joy must be present in your business in order for it to be a genuine success. If you find that you are joyfully using the product or service regardless of the number of clients that you have, then you have made the right selection.

Footstep #2
Match your business with the right consumers.
Your business can not be all things to all people. You will find that all consumers may need your service, but most will not want it. You could spend hundreds of hours and thousands of advertising dollars trying to convince them otherwise, or you could simply strive to reach more targeted customers who actually want your service. Begin to think in terms of how your product will solve the problem of a specific consumer. Then conclude by figuring out where that perfect consumer seeks his or her solutions so you will know how to reach them. You will find that the market you have pre-qualified is more responsive, ready and willing to pay for your service.

Footstep #3
Step away from the crowd to identify yourself.
Standing out from the crowd can give your business the competitive edge it needs to succeed and ultimately make you more money. Even if you do not have a unique product, you can discover a unique way of selling your product that will connect you with a unique group of consumers. A great example comes from the book "Home Made Money - Bringing in the Bucks" by Barbara Brabec: Barbara writes, "...if you were to offer an originally designed vest and call it a handmade patchwork vest, you'd likely appeal to the type of buyer who might pay $25 to $45 for the item at a crafts fair or in a small shop. On the other hand, if you were to take the same item, create half dozen other unique vest designs and call the line InVestments, you might be able to sell the garments for up to $500 to an exclusive audience who are used to spending thousands of dollars on designer clothing." Hmm...now that's thinking out of the box.

Footstep #4
Allow your business to make the money for you.
Did you know that 97% of home based businesses fail because they simply did not have a quality business process in place? We always feel that we can do it all. Well of course we can, we are women! But when exactly do we plan to do it all if we are doing everything else too? So what do you do? Should you push forward crossing your fingers that you won't fail just like the other 97% percent in your group? Absolutely not! You will check back into reality and put a system into to place to guarantee that you will not fail. Start by making a list of all of the daunting tasks that you have to do everyday to keep your business going, and then research the virtual assistance and technology available to help you automate those pesky tasks.

The worst thing you could do to your business is "wing it" and hope for the best.
If you truly want to be "Rich Just Like Her" then you will need to realize that the desire alone will not assure your success. You will need to do the work associated with the success you desire. It may be hard at times, but it is so worth it!

I Could Be Rich Just Like Her - Part One

2011-02-07T19:12:00.000-08:00

Most women would agree that they are able to do an abundance of diverse things extremely well. Unfortunately, this ability can quite often lead to home business failure. Why is this? Well, let's look at my own journey as a direct sales rep to help find some answers.

In the past, I would first romanticize what my business could look like. Usually my vision was based on another woman's dream business and how I perceived her achievement of success. This woman was commonly someone I had met at a home show or heard about on television. For example, I know that my home baked cookies taste much better than Mrs. Fields cookies. I thought, "If I bake cookies and sell them... I could be rich just like her!" Another example would be the evening I saw a direct sales leader being interviewed on 20/20. Her commissions averaged 15 thousand dollars per month. Even though I didn't wear make-up, I knew lots of people who did. I said to myself, "If I join that company... I could be rich just like her! My clever way of Monday morning quarterbacking for home based businesses dragged on for a couple more years.

I would also tend to generalize my business model to serve the needs of everyone because in my mind the word "everyone" represented the phrase "all of the money". To share everything that my business offered to every single person that I met would also mean that I would never miss an opportunity to make money. EVER!

Thoughts of apprehension regarding the fact that there were hundreds of thousands of people offering my exact product never even entered my head. I knew that I had a reputable product and there should be a great demand for it. I figured that all I really had to do was advertise my product the same way the other reps did and the customers would come running. Then I could be rich just like her!

"I can do it all." I would chant to myself. "I can be an effective wife, mother, duaghter and friend, all while building my home based business. I can also add lots of stuff to my business so that there will be something to sell to everyone I meet. I'll save loads of money by designing my own sites, keeping my own books and handling all of my own advertising! Then I KNOW I will be rich just like..." Well, I'm sure by now you get my point.

This way of thinking became the crucial turning point for me. A turning point that has now defined who I am and what my passion is really about, something that has allowed me to create a successful home career with a great income. That is ...once I realized that this way of thinking was the reason for the biggest business blunders of my entrepreneurial career!

Have you ever heard of the phrase, "Just because you can, does not necessarily mean that you should"? How about this one? "It's not for everybody".

Do you want to be rich just like her? Then we should take a better look at what she is really doing to make her fantastic income.

Next month, (March 7th, to be exact) I will share her secrets with you!

Take Inventory

2011-01-03T19:19:00.000-08:00

"We become the combined average of the FIVE people we associate with most." -Jim Rohn

A fabulous way to start off a new year is to look at your own life and see how true this statement is.

The five people you associate with most likely reflect your bank account, health, career choices, self-esteem, habits (good and bad), interests, conversations, values, and goals.

Certain groups of people are either pulling you up, pulling you down, or keeping you comfortably in neutral. Let's take a better look at these groups:

Energy Empowering - This group sets the example of what you aspire to emulate.
Their impact challenges you beyond your "comfort zone." They inspire, empower, lead, and challenge you to grow. They may believe more in you than you do in yourself, and encourage you to live your highest potential. These people aren't always the easiest to be around because their nature demands the best from you.

Tip: Consciously seek out more of these individuals out and spend time with them. Ask them the hard questions. You are their peer. Look for ways that you can also contribute value to them.

Energy Draining - These are the people who deplete or drain your energy.
They complain, whine, criticize, blame, use sarcasm, condemn, gossip, and otherwise focus on the bleaker view of life. They are pessimistic. When you spend time with them, you notice the heaviness of their presence, and instantly feel better when you walk away.

Tip: Though pessimists can make good points while ranting, it's best to take their words casually and limit your time with them.

Energy Comforting - They are a lot like you, and share similar values and interests. You enjoy being with them, and feel better by being around them. We all love having people in our lives that bring comfort, acknowledgment, sharing and understanding. The pitfall or trap to beware of here is the word "comfort." This group is more likely to keep you anchored to habits (good and bad), disempowering stories, and limiting beliefs that may hold you back.

Tip: Cultivate these relationships. Focus more on sharing what you desire and appreciate in life. These are the ones who will really support your ventures.

In order to continue to grow towards your goals in life and business, you must constantly ask yourself the super hard questions: Who am I around? What are they doing to me? What have they encouraged me to read? What have they encouraged me to say? Where do they have me going? What do they have me thinking? And most important, what do they have me becoming?

Then ask yourself the biggest question: Is this okay?

If it's not okay, make the necessary changes. If it is okay, then increase your circle of influence to include others who would benefit from your philosophies.

Wishing you and yours Health, Wealth and Happiness for 2011~~

Moms Making Money’s Holiday Mantra

2010-12-13T17:00:00.000-08:00

We Will Be Realistic and not get caught up in overextending ourselves out of a sense of compulsion or obligation. We know to keep it simple, thoughtful and heartfelt.
Tip: Use the 12 days of Christmas theme and give out inexpensive treats to your children for each of the twelve days of Christmas or utilize an Advent Calendar to make each day special.

We Will Be Specific and know exactly how much we will spend in time and money for gifts, gatherings and holiday goodies.
Tip: Put together holiday goody bags for your family and friends. Include candy, stickers, and a small craft for each child in the family.

We Will Be Decisive and not waver in the smart and thoughtful decisions we have made. We'll decide and stick with it.
Tip: Be present in each moment of each day. This is NOT just a season for shopping. Just take in the beauty of the holidays, have some hot cocoa and look at the wonderful sites all around you.

We Will Have a Great Attitude because we know what this season really means to our lives. We know we will have more fun if we don't sweat the small stuff.
Tip: Make some new holiday traditions with your family, friends and just yourself.

We Will Give Our Inner Martha Stewart a Break and relax instead of trying to make everything perfect. We are going to enjoy the holiday spirit each day with our loved ones.
Tip: Eat an extra tasty boxed treat or make one favorite recipe and really splurge on the ingredients. Yum!

We Will Make Room for Holiday Joy by de-cluttering our homes and ridding the stuff we don't need.
Tip: Share your old stuff with families who are less fortunate than yourself to make their holiday season special too.

We Will Use the Word "No" because we know it's hazardous to say "yes" to everyone. When we start to feel a little bad about declining a few invitations, we will think back to our last stint with influenza with bronchitis.
Tip: Opt to stay home and have a special movie night with festive goodies, then take a hot bath/shower and go to sleep early.

The holiday season always reminds us of what really matters in life. Our children, family, friends, food, good health, a place to live... the list goes on. And as this season unfolds, it will reveal that our so-called problems in life may not be quite as bad as someone else's dilemma.
So no matter what winter holiday you celebrate, give yourself a special gift this year. Pause for a few moments each day and give thanks. The feeling of gratitude is an amazing and powerful gift.

Why Business Professionals are Drawn to Facebook's Farmville

2010-11-01T11:32:00.000-07:00

Howdy Neighbor!

Did you know that every now and then I get a little ribbing from my colleagues for becoming such a devout Farmville player? I know it may seem odd for a successful work-at-home mom to spend what little spare time she has on online gaming. But I must say that this slightly addictive Facebook game has brought me great personal joy and laser business focus. Laser business focus?
Yep, let me explain....

My Social Media Engagement Has Increased
I have bonded personally and professionally with so many wonderful entrepreneurs who also enjoy the Facebook games. I'm networking with people from all around the globe. Maintaining relationships with my Farmville and Facebook friends keeps me socially active online, not just cruisin' for clients. I find that the more active I am, the more paying clients I seem to organically attract. Go figure!

My Business Skills Have Improved
Playing this simple online game has sharpen my money management skills and decision making abilities which has helped me make better calls for my own real-life business. I have learned how to effectively balance various streams of income, including investing in Facebook gaming stock.

Farmville Has Proven That Products are Power
Even Farmville knows that the gamers need actual products in order to become wildly successful while playing. Guidance from this farming game has shown me why I need to develop quality products within my own business. I steadily observe virtual products within this game to see why some are popular and why others are not. This practice gives me a clearer understanding for my own business marketing plans.

Play Reinforces Good Business Habits
Farmville has become my 'Zen' time. Cultivating the soil, planting, growing and sharing the harvest keeps me in a place of love and friendship. The best way to play this game is by giving. The more you give to your neighbors, the more you share, the more you are rewarded. That's a great business model. Now that I'm calmer, I find that I'm able to see my business growth projects through to completion, which affords me a larger income. In so many ways, I really do reap what I sow.

Business networking comes in many shapes and forms. Some play golf, attend networking events, meet at a spa or gym, or play games. There is no right or wrong place to network, however your best business prospects can be found the easiest when you are relaxed and authentic.

ABC's of Scheduling

2010-10-06T11:31:00.000-07:00

Back to School Time!

For many of you, it's that time of year again. Your young ones will be gone most of each day to receive more education. Hooray! Now you have time to work on your business, make those phone calls and create that blog. (Tee hee.) For homeschooling moms, like me, you didn't have much time in the summer to work on your business and there is even less time now! So what are you supposed to do?

Before you go out and buy yet another book about Time Management. Try to remember the ABC's of scheduling...

A = Accurate Understanding

The best way to avoid the stress of "too much on your plate" is simple. Get real and keep it real.

Get real - Understand how long your tasks really take to complete, then accept the truth.

Keep it real - Once you have figured out how long it really takes to complete your tasks, don't allow others to complicate it. Run your daily life and keep to your schedule. It's okay to say, "No thanks" or "I wish I could, but I have other responsibilities." Quoting the great words of Dr. Seuss "... because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." You'll find that folks will respect your schedule just as they respect you.

B = Be Attentive and Efficient

Want to feel great when you plop into bed at night? Achieve what you set out to do when you got out of bed that morning. Go into each task with an action plan. Give yourself a reasonable amount of time and stay focused. If you are not finished within your allotted time, schedule more time for the next day to complete then go on to your next task.

C = Compromise

Learning to compromise can make your life more effective. Sometimes you'll need to step back and ask the hard questions: "Is there another way I can do this?" or "Is there a better time and place?" Or, you may wish to divide tasks into smaller steps. Leave a certain task out. Spread the task out over different lengths of time. Cut back on certain tasks and concentrate on others. Whatever you may choose, doing it differently often helps to complete the task effectively.

Good luck and remember I'm in the trenches right along with you!

10 Simple Success Strategies to Better Networking

2010-06-14T19:26:00.000-07:00

1 of 10 - Understanding the Difference
Networking Groups offer the opportunity of building and maintaining informal relationships, especially with people whose friendship could bring advantages such as job or business opportunities. Business Development Groups offer the small group opportunity of individuals meeting together over a short period of time to create solutions for a defined area of business concern.

2 of 10 - Understanding the Concept
Networking is a great way to meet people in a "non-selling" setting. You are there to foster relationships - not to sell. Just meet and greet. Ask people about their businesses and about themselves. Be friendly and relaxed. Enjoy yourself. Get to know people. IF and WHEN someone appears to meet your target criteria, ask for their business card. Then follow up with them later to see IF there may be a fit.

3 of 10 - Get the Most from Your Attendance
Pick events that could put you face to face with a few people who most likely WANT what you have to offer or who could connect you with people who WANT what you offer. Both are terrific prospects.

4 of 10 - Get the Most from Your Investment
Set a time and money budget for your networking. Remember that joining a lot of groups does not necessarily bring you a great return on your investment. Go for quality instead of quantity. One or two groups that offer a perfect fit for you far outweighs the dozen who don’t really offer what you are looking for.

5 of 10 - The Long Dance
Networking is the first step in a long dance of getting to know people. You are there to build solid business relationships. This takes time and you can’t rush the process. Manage your time and conversations so you will connect with a few different people each time that you attend.

6 of 10 - Be Attractive
I don’t mean slap on globs of make up and wear your best suit. Attraction is your vibe! Have fun, relax and enjoy yourself. People love being around other people who are relaxed and genuinely happy. People are more attracted to people who are interested in what they have to say. Ask questions, listen and engage. This is the fastest way to develop rapport and qualify them as a prospect.

7 of 10 - Be Reliable
It’s important to attend regularly so the group will begin to view you as a trustworthy and reliable business owner. Showing up to meetings every blue moon will make it difficult for you get to know the group and more importantly it will make it impossible for them to get to know you.

8 of 10 - Send the Right Message
It's okay to tell people what you do. Give your "30 second commercial" but stop after that. You're there to gather information and to meet people, not to sell. Turn your cell phone off and give the group your undivided attention. Arrive on time and do not leave early. Not being able to give your full attention to the group sends the message that you are not a serious business owner. Remember, though always being busy and distracted may make you feel like you are productive-- it rarely is perceived that way by others.

9 of 10 - Give First
The best way to begin a relationship is by giving someone something - like a referral. Think of someone who could really enjoy your networking buddy’s service. It doesn't cost you anything to connect the two people together. If your networking bud is the kind of person you want to do business with, they'll reciprocate-- and then a valuable, long-term business relationship may develop.

10 of 10 - The Grand Paradox
When you give purely out of the joy of giving, you cannot help but receive. Yet when you give in order to receive, it doesn’t work out nearly as well! It’s a paradox! When someone knows you care about them enough to refer business their way, they feel great about you. It produces to a natural desire to give back to you. Of course, it doesn’t have to be actual business that you give. It could be information or your time; maybe a tip on a job for their son, or a coupon for their favorite restaurant. Become a successful networker you must become a genuine networker who gives without expectations.

I Network Best in My Pajamas

2010-04-22T18:23:00.000-07:00

My favorite thing about working from home is…I really do work from home. My career does not require me to leave the house in order for me to make an income. No home parties, formal meetings with clients or visiting other properties for contract jobs. Pretty neat, huh? Then I guess it wouldn’t be a surprise to you that I also do 98% of my business networking online as well. Go figure. I network mostly online, not because I choose to, but because my weekly schedule is full. So instead of being frustrated about not being able to attend events, I just do what I do best; find what I’m looking for on the Internet.

I want to share my favorite social networking sites and why I personally use them:

The first one is LinkedIn
LinkedIn is very professional and has a “big business” feel to it. A little stuffy for my groove, but I still enjoy it because it really does validate me as a professional. My profile reads like a resume and most of my LinkedIn connections are still in the corporate world or have just transitioned into the entrepreneurial world. This is definitely my market, but what I really love about LinkedIn is the recommendation section. As we all know, satisfied customers are the best source for new customers. Word of mouth referrals on LinkedIn are published on my public profile page and will also broadcast to my entire LinkedIn network. Cool Beans!

The second one is Twitter
Quick blurbs are definitely my style. I usually have about 15 minutes or so to do any one thing throughout the day, so Twitter really comes in handy. I like to quickly share a quote or how my day is evolving. I have been told by some that people may not care to know what I’m up to during the day. But this is what I think is so cool about Twitter; only the people who “do” care to know what I’m up to will choose to follow me. Plus I honestly feel it’s beneficial to connect with my contacts and find commonalities outside of our business relationships. Sometimes doing business requires connecting with someone on a different or deeper level in order to gain their permanent attention. So if one of my contacts likes tacos; that would be a really important fact for me to know. I love tacos! Now our taco conversations will kickoff the opportunity to get to know each other -- before we talk business. What a novel concept.

The third one and my absolute favorite is Facebook
Uh huh! This is my groove for sure. The main reason I left the corporate life behind is because it wasn’t fun. I do not believe you have to be stuffed in your control tops with your head buried in a pile of paper in order be a professional. Professionals are very creative mammals and need minimal to no supervision to get jobs done. I like to play alternative rock, drink root beer and kick my shoes off when I work hard. This is when I’m at my creative best. Networking is pure F.U.N. on Facebook! Just by playing games, sharing pictures, jokes, personal thoughts and business tips, I have picked up more devoted clients and vendors than I ever did at any in-person networking group... But that’s just me.

There are thousands of reasons to dive into the social media networking world for your business. The main reason I recommend it is because it works. However, I also advise that you embrace your own style while networking online. Otherwise, you won’t have any fun…which is the whole point!

May God continue to Bless You with Peace and Prosperity!

Today's "unthinkables" are tomorrow's realities!

2010-03-17T18:38:00.000-07:00

Hi my Friend!
I have been just swamped the past two months keeping up with my son's school curriculum conferences, science fairs and scheduled field trips. Plus don't even get me started on this dang time change! Luckily, Spring Break is on the horizon. Hopefully, I can catch up on some much needed downtime in a few weeks.

Since I'm soooo busy I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to share a really cool article from Dr. Robert Rohm. I hope it helps you stay focused on what is really important --- like it did for me. Enjoy~

Dr. Robert Rohm, the President of Personality Insights, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia, is a popular corporate trainer and keynote speaker recognized for his expertise in team building and human behavior. He uses a highly engaging combination of humor and illustrations to educate, motivate and train his audience. Click here to watch some of his training videos on YouTube.

Today's "unthinkables" are tomorrow's realities!

"Recently I had the opportunity to hear a man by the name of Scott Rigsby share his life story. It was one of the most remarkable talks I have ever heard. About 20 years ago, Scott was riding in the back of a pickup truck with some other guys when an 18-wheeler tried to pass them and "clipped" the side of the pickup. He was thrown from the truck and dragged over 300 feet. In the space of 9 seconds, his life was changed forever. From that accident he lost both of his legs.

Although Scott suffered through some difficult moments, in 2005 his life turned around when he became the first double-amputee to successfully complete the Iron Man competition in Hawaii.

As I listened to all that he has overcome and accomplished in his life, I realized once again that many of the "problems" in my life were not really problems at all, but only slight irritations. Scott has overcome insurmountable odds, and I predict that you will hear of him many times in years to come.

In his talk, he shared that there were five concepts that have helped him in his personal life. I quickly got out my notepad and jotted them down. I thought I would share them with you because each one is so powerful.

Have a dream
He pointed out that Helen Keller once said that it was bad to not be able to see, but it was even worse to have no vision. As you know, Helen Keller was blind, yet she had more vision than many people who have eyesight. Scott said that having a dream for what could be done, rather than complaining about the circumstances that had come his way, kept him going through the difficult times.

Gather good people around you
For many months after the accident, Scott spiraled downward into a place that was so dark he felt that he might never recover from it. Yet, through the love of family and friends, he did recover and is now devoting the rest of his life to helping people who have similar situations.

Operate in faith, not fear
Scott said that he continued to look upward, asking God to give him guidance each step of the way. There have been many miracles that have unfolded as he has allowed his faith to be his guide. Fear does no good and keeps you stuck, but faith will keep you strong and moving in the right direction. This does not mean that fear will ever completely go away; it simply does not have to be the driving force of your life.

Difficult obstacles are really opportunities to help you grow
This one was particularly hard for me to swallow. I am not sure how I would have responded if I had faced the "difficult obstacle" of losing both of my legs. However, Scott pointed out that these were the opportunities that caused his life to become what it is today. Although he would not have chosen the path that he is on, he has certainly excelled because of it. Scott now works with medical specialists, developing new methodologies for those who are physically challenged.

Focus on the things that you can control and not on the things you cannot control
I was impressed to hear Scott say, "I know I cannot control the weather, but I can control my own attitude." Many of us become upset about things we cannot control. None of us has power over the weather. However, every one of us does have control over our own individual attitudes and how we accept what comes our way. What a powerful truth to practice on a daily basis!

Scott has experienced those five truths, perhaps in a way that is much deeper than I ever will know. Nevertheless, I certainly agree with all five of them. I believe those concepts will give each one of us guidance, strength and hope as we move ahead in our life."

Pretty good read, huh?
Hope it will help you better navigate these tricky waters called "life".

May God bless you with Peace and Prosperity
Renee Walton - Director of Moms Making Money

A Few Time Management Strategies that REALLY DO WORK!

2010-02-15T10:53:00.000-08:00

Build a Strong Bridge
"Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments". J. Rohn
As a multi-tasking entrepreneur you should be working extremely hard at building a strong bridge of self-discipline. Without it--you are toast. A bridge of discipline involves acting according to what you think instead of how you feel in the moment. Often it involves sacrificing the pleasure and thrills of the moment for what matters the most in your life. When you have truly committed to a more disciplined business work style, you will have won half of the time management battle.

Level the Playing Field
Understand that you receive the same rolling 24 hours as everyone else on the planet. Knowing that no one person has more time than you should really dispel any myths rumbling around in your head that you have been somehow short-changed.

Invest Well
Each block of time that we receive is a new opportunity to accomplish something like sleep, work, goals, food, leisure or entertainment. Just like money, in order to get the most from your time you must have a plan of action. Each block of time represents a great investment opportunity. How well you invest your time determines your future return. You want more time? Invest the time you have well.

Schedule EVERYTHING!
Okay, I must confess that I'm still challenged with this one. I do attempt to schedule everything, but some smaller things like returning a phone call or taking out the trash slip through the cracks of my scheduled day. Mostly because I honestly feel that I can remember them, BUT, I usually get so busy that I still forget some of the little things I need to do. I'm sure you can relate. Remember it's not just scheduled work-related tasks. You really need to include everything; time for yourself, time with the kids, time for friends and sweeties, exercise, spiritual practice, shopping, TV shows, and break times etc.

Stop Kidding Yourself
Embrace your style and appreciate your high and low energy periods. Don't schedule something at 6am if you know darn well that you don't enjoy getting out of bed before noon! You are not trying to do this my way; you are going to schedule your day in a way that works for your lifestyle. Tip: Set up guidelines for dealing with interruptions and who you are willing to interrupt work for and who will have to wait. Creating these guidelines now will help you make quick decisions when an unexpected interruption occurs.

Make Your Word Golden
Others will respect your schedule when YOU respect your schedule.
Avoid the destructive trap of multi-tasking too much. Be mindful of taking too many calls and emails when you are working. AND when you are at play with friends or family, leave your work related tasks/calls in the office. When you continually keep your word, those around you (clients, friends and family) will begin to trust you and feel more satisfied that they will have a fair amount of time with you. Ahhhh....can you feel the harmony?

Bonus Tip:
Want to save even more time? Schedule your social media networking activities.
Like everything that I do, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter are also on my daily schedule. I allocate (using a timer) 45 minutes each morning for these tasks. I also use http://ping.fm/ to quickly update each social network status at once and http://www.socialoomph.com/ to schedule tweets for the weekends so I will have more time to rest or play.

Hope these strategies will help you discover more time throughout your day~

May God Bless You with Peace and Prosperity!

Renee Walton - Director of Moms Making Money
Moms Making Money on FACEBOOK Moms Making Money on TWITTER

2010-01-10T22:47:00.000-08:00

Out with the Old and In with the New!

It’s a new year full of possibilities!
To achieve a prosperous 2010, I recommend that you accomplish three important tasks within the next 30 days:

GET RID OF THE OLD (what’s not working for you)
This is very important. You have to feel good about what you are doing and how you are doing it. If you are not getting any closer to your goals or your daily practices are not flowing comfortably for you; then it's time to step back, identify what is off the mark and....fix it!
This also goes for how much you are spending in order to achieve results. Make sure that your return on investment is worth what you are paying for in vendor services such as ecommerce, web designers, mailing systems, phones and where you purchase your business supplies. Take a long look at your business spending, and then do some price comparisons. With the state of the economy, you’d be surprised at how many vendors have lowered their service fees on new contracts.

ADD MORE OF THE NEW (what is working for you)
I’m sure you have established business strategies that bring in the dollars and you feel comfortable carrying them out. These awesome strategies need to be nurtured in order for them to maintain your business. You need to do more of what is working. Example: If you seem to get more clients by social media networking, then you need to fine tune your social media skills and expand your online presence. If you find that conducting live workshops brings you more clients, then you should conduct regularly scheduled events. Whatever is working for you…plan to do more of it during the year.

SET ONE NEW GOAL FOR THE YEAR
Yes, just one terrific and practical goal. Effective goal planning requires that you have a single goal in mind, and that you plan your way to that objective.
This doesn't mean you have to do something really huge or impressive. It just means that it's time to really go to work. Set one practical goal for the year, and then put yourself on an action schedule. Design each action to directly get you one step closer to achieving your annual goal. Commit to moving towards your goal step by step throughout 2010.

I’m ending with one of my favorite New Year quotes:
“We spend January walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives, not looking for flaws, but for potential.” Ellen Goodman

Holiday Mantra

2009-11-24T22:05:00.000-08:00

We Will Be Realistic and not get caught up in overextending ourselves out of a sense of compulsion or obligation. We know to keep it simple, thoughtful and heartfelt.
Tip: Use the 12 days of Christmas theme and give out inexpensive treats to your children for each of the twelve days of Christmas or utilize an Advent Calendar to make each day special.

We Will Be Specific and know exactly how much we will spend in time and money for gifts, gatherings and holiday goodies.
Tip: Put together holiday goody bags for your family and friends. Include candy, stickers, and a small craft for each child in the family.

We Will Be Decisive and not waver in the smart and thoughtful decisions we have made. We'll decide and stick with it.
Tip: Focus on the beauty of the season. Make some time to go out and look at the Christmas decorations in your town. This is NOT a time for shopping. Just take in the beauty of the holidays, have some hot cocoa and look at the wonderful sites all around you.

We Will Have a Great Attitude because we know what this season really means to our lives. We know we will have more fun if we don't sweat the small stuff.
Tip: Take some time this year and make some new holiday traditions with your family, friends and just yourself.

We Will Give Our Inner Martha Stewart a Break and relax instead of trying to make everything perfect. We are going to enjoy the holiday spirit each day with our loved ones.
Tip: Eat an extra tasty boxed treat or make one favorite recipe and really splurge on the ingredients. Yum!

We Will Make Room for Holiday Joy by de-cluttering our homes and ridding the stuff we don't need.
Tip: Share your old stuff with families who are less fortunate than yourself to make their Christmas Season special too.

We Will Use the Word "No" because we know it's hazardous to say "yes" to everyone. When we start to feel a little bad about declining a few invitations, we will think back to our last stint with influenza with bronchitis.
Tip: Stay home a few times and have a special movie night with festive goodies, then take a hot bath/shower and go to sleep early.

The holiday season always reminds us of what really matters in life. Our children, family, friends, food, good health... the list goes on. And as this season draws nearer, it will reveal that our so-called problems in life may not be quite as bad as someone else's dilemma. This year's holiday spirit will be evidence that although we may be going down a bumpy road right now, the world is in a constant state of change and these challenging times will indeed pass.

So no matter what winter holiday you celebrate, give yourself a special gift this year. Pause for a few moments each day and give thanks. The feeling of gratitude is an amazing and powerful gift.

Lessons for You from the Book “Do You” by Russell Simmons

2009-06-26T19:56:00.000-07:00

Chapter Nine: “You Can Never Get Before You Give”

“The possession of material riches, without inner peace, is like dying of thirst while bathing in a lake.” Yogananda

For me this has been a subject which led to small wars with some infopreneurs. I have always struggled with “pricing” or “fees” in trade for simple information.

How should you give from your heart and empower others with your services for a fee?
Geesh! Over the years I have seen valuable information being sold in a packaged price of $4000 on one side of town and the same info being sold for $150 on the other side of town. It was the same dang information.

Where is the balance?

When I ask this question among some colleagues, I notice everyone has a different answer. I believe it’s because they have made decisions that are right for their lifestyle. But I still can’t help but stumble at times trying to find my place within all the hustle and bustle of selling information.

In reading this book, chapter eight and nine spoke volumes to my soul. Yep, even with the urban lingo, Russell’s book allowed me think deeply about the balance and the fairness of my business.

Chapter Selection… “I want to make it clear that I’m not suggesting that there’s anything wrong with making money. How could I? I’m a business man by trade and I work hard to try to make sure that all my businesses are successful….However pilling up zeros in your bank account, or cars in your driveway, won’t in and of itself make you successful. Rather, true success is based on a constant flow of giving and receiving. In fact, if you look up affluence in the dictionary, you’ll see its roots come phrase meaning “to flow with abundance.” So in order to be truly affluent, you must always let what you’ve received flow back into the world.”

I feel comfortable in charging a fair price for my services. I know that others are charging way more; perceiving that more, means more value. Sometimes it does.
But for me, I will only charge what I would be willing to pay. I have noticed that by following basic fairness principles, my business is growing with a steady stream of clients who appreciate my efforts.

Chapter Selection… “Giving, not trading or selling is the basis of success. The most rewarding thing you can do is to give the world something good.”

Do what you love, charge what you feel is fair and share something really good with the rest of us!

Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success

Lessons for You from the Book “Do You” by Russell Simmons

2009-05-29T19:10:00.000-07:00

Chapter Eight: “The Science of Success: Plant the Good Seeds”

Chapter Selection: “ …When you give the world love and respect, the world will give you love and respect in return. When you give the world negativity and contempt, the world is going to return that negativity to you.”

This has been a touchy subject among quite a few of Moms Making Money Premier Members. They want to plant good seeds but they are worried about being too giving. I’m always asked during my talks, “What if I give too much? People can take advantage of me and I could lose money!” I always reply “Just be fair, honest and smart in all that you do-- then you won’t have to worry.” After years of mistakes and straying from my core beliefs for the interest of few more dollars, I now use my homemade check list before I start any new project or venture:

Is it:
--Right for me and everyone that I will be serving (my core market)
--Sincere, straight-forward and easy to comprehend
--Unique, meaningful and empathetic to those I will be serving (my core market)
--An opportunity to expand and improve within my field of business
--A pathway to increase my business visibility and/or revenue

I must say that since I have been using this checklist; I have not made another knuckle-headed mistake regarding the growth of my business. (smile)

Chapter Selection….Just as your actions have to be positive, the services you provide to the world also have to be positive if you want to reap any lasting professional success. A lot of things you can sell will create temporary happiness and success, but to be truly happy, you have to give things of lasting value.”

Try not to get caught up in fast results. Instead, look for permanent results.

Chapter Selection “… Every religion and culture around the globe teaches a version of this law. It’s truly a universal concept. That’s why no matter what you look like, where you live, or what flag you stand under (or what business you are in), this law applies to you—you’re only going to get out of the world what you put in it”

Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success

Lessons for You from the Book “Do You” by Russell Simmons

2009-05-22T19:54:00.000-07:00

Chapter Seven: “There Are No Failures, Only Quitters”

People quit because of their Achilles heel, metaphorically speaking.
I can’t tell you how many times I quit a promising new venture when I was younger.
Oh, I didn’t mind investing and working hard-- I still don’t. My Achilles heel was my concern with what other people thought of what I was doing. At that time, if a friend made a negative comment about an idea I was trying to bring realty, I would immediately give up. That was my method of operation with any business venture that I chose. What a mess, huh? But I bet you can relate!

What changed my destructive behavior?
My 1 minute old son was placed in extremely unsure arms. I knew at that very moment that I had to stop the nonsense and get serious. In an instant, it no longer mattered to me what anyone thought because quitting was not an option in my new life as a mom-entrepreneur.

Chapter Selection: “ …When it comes to courting success, I consider a “never-say-die attitude” to be more valuable than wealth, connections, or sometimes even talent. In fact, so many of my competitors were smarter than I was and had greater resources, but only got halfway down the road before they quit the first time that they stumbled.”

As my little one grew, he found his mom plucking away at her computer for hours... building her dreams one brick at a time. I stayed in front of my computer so much that my now 7-year old boy can type and download files as fast as I can! Okay...faster.

Chapter Selection “… As I said, resilience is one of the most valuable characteristics you can develop in life. Faith, dedication, compassion and hard work are good. But resilience is what makes them great. That’s because no matter how hard you are working, or no matter how great your faith is, at some point you are going to hit a wall. Whether you lead a successful life or not depends on how you deal with that wall.”

I chose to either step around or go through the walls as they come up.
It gets easier with a little practice. Now friends call me the bulldozer!

Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success

Lessons for You from the Book “Do You” by Russell Simmons

2009-05-10T15:57:00.000-07:00

Chapter Six: "Surround Yourself with the Right People"

Quote: “Surround yourself only with people who are going to lift you up higher.”
Oprah Winfrey

I learned this one the hard way!
When I started out on my journey to become a successful home-based business owner my circle of old co-workers, friends and extended family were all against it. Didn’t matter how I justified my efforts…they just were not going to accept it. Later down the road I began to realize that they really felt that their fears should be mine as well. Since I had my own fears stacked a mile high, I decided not to add any more fears that my circle so wanted to generously share with me.

Selection: “ …every market can look very unwelcoming when you’re on the outside looking in. The way I have been able to get past the fear in my own career is by focusing on establishing relationships with people who are already behind what I perceive to be the walls.”

As time went by, my circle faded away little by little, leaving me with just my own thoughts, beliefs and values. It was a scary time; however it was also a time for my true foundation to begin. I made new friends and new collaborations that enhanced my personal and business growth.

Selection “… whether you’re the Godfather or just a rookie, you are going to be defined by the people around you.”

Did you know that you are a collection of the five people you have the most contact with? Makes you think about what is really going on with you, huh? (smile)

I bet it couldn’t hurt to add a few more to your circle that will support you, inspire you, and teach you something new!

Selection: “If you choose to be around spiritual, hardworking, giving people, you’ll be a spiritual, hardworking person who’s always receiving gifts.”

Sounds good to me!

Lessons for You from the Book “Do You” by Russell Simmons

2009-04-14T18:53:00.000-07:00

Chapter Five: “Never Less than Your Best”

Selection: “…I know that seems painfully obvious, but there’s simply no way around it. Without a dedication to hard work, you’re never going to find any lasting success in life.”

It may seem tiring just to think about always doing your best, but to me it just means being present in the moment and being truly honest in my effort. It’s not about doing everything perfectly; it’s about committing to being genuine in your endeavors.

I used to feel like I was working hard because I was stressed all the time. Isn’t it funny how I assumed that hard work was a stressful behavior? But I realized in time that I was just another hamster on the wheel, tirelessly moving in a complete circle. The only thing I was working hard at was stressing about working hard. I was running inside that squeaky wheel; repeating the same toils day in and day out with no progression towards my goals of success.

Selection: “…The actual work that you do is what will change your life for the better. Worrying about that work will just slow your life down.”

I think a lot of people still struggle with the concept of hard work. But you don’t, right?

Selection: “…work your hardest on the job that is in front of you right now and don’t worry about the past or the future. The more you worry about the future, the less engaged you are in the work you’re doing today.”

It really is that simple.

Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success

Lessons for You from the Book “Do You” by Russell Simmons

2009-04-09T15:59:00.000-07:00

Chapter Four: Stop Frontin’ and Start Today

Selection: “…If you wait for “Someday”, you’re going to be waiting for a very long time. But once you start today, you’ll find that success is much closer than you ever imagined. In fact the day you start, you are already a step closer….”

“Stop frontin” is an urban slang which means: To create a front or false appearance intended to protect oneself from the reality of a situation.

In order to achieve success you must first stop allowing everything and anything to get in your way. Stalling, or procrastination, is your fear making decisions for you. Stalling is always easier than actually starting and committing to a goal. But keep in mind, procrastination will most certainly block you from your destination.

Selection: “…right now is the only time that there is. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow never comes. Whatever you need to do in life, start it today.”

These words have given me inspiration to move forward in my business regardless of my husband’s illness. I realize that by waiting for life to improve or get easier puts me in a permanent waiting stage. I have given myself the gift of the freedom to pursue any opportunity on the day it presents itself.

Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success

Lessons for You from the Book “Do You” by Russell Simmons

2009-04-04T16:43:00.000-07:00

Chapter Two: Get Your Mind Right

Selection: “ …I don’t belong to any particular religion or sect. But I owe much of my success to finding the time for prayer and meditation in my life…God has already put a lot of time into you. When you put a little time back into God through prayer and meditation, that investment will always pay off. That’s why when I start my day by reflecting on all the things I have to be thankful for, I’ll have a much more rewarding day.”

This a great excerpt found on the first page and the last page of this chapter. I don’t want to say too much at this time. I just want you take the words in. Think about where you have been, where you are now and where do you desire to go next.

Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success

Lessons for you from the book “Do You” by Russell Simmons

2009-04-02T18:04:00.000-07:00

Chapter One: See Your Vision and Stick with It

What I want to share from this is: Stick with your vision of your business no matter what happens or what others say about it.

In this chapter Mr. Simmons shares why and how he started Phat Farm Fashions; the dreams, the struggles and the triumphs.

Selection: “….those hurdles were very difficult to get over. And I wont’ lie, there were many times I felt like the naysayers were right and should forget the whole thing. But I couldn’t let go of my vision. It was so clear; I could see the end result in my mind before I even started to work.”

I’m sure you can relate to this particular excerpt.
Just the other day I was told empathically that this was not the time to start a new business. I have to admit, the words scarred the crap out of me, but I too could only see my fabulous end result. I know that all I have to do is stick with it.

Stick with it. It seems that may be the magic door to success that everyone is looking for. How many people do you know actually stick with something and see it through? Not many, huh? So maybe that’s why it’s so darn incredible when you encounter someone who actually fits your definition of success.

Selection: “ Ultimately, it took me a long time to make Phat Farm profitable…. I spent six years busting my ass while I could hear people on the sidelines laughing at me, saying I was going to fail. But eventually, after all the struggles, we started to find our groove….And by maintaining its integrity… the Phat Farm brand has been able to keep growing. After ten years in the game, we were grossing close to $300 million a year...”

Wow! I wonder what those people on the sidelines are saying today.
Okay. I will admit that the line about him taking 6 years made me put the book down for a while. I kept thinking to myself that I really don’t want to spend 6 years or more trying to get it together. Then I realized that I have been in this industry for way more than 6 years and I am just now finding my groove. Duh.

I want you to think about your vision; how you can value and protect it.

One thing I do know: Integrity brings Clarity . Clarity brings Confidence.

Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success

Just a little too much, perhaps.

2009-03-30T18:03:00.000-07:00

Me and Evan at our San Gabriel Valley, Ca Chapter meeting held on March 21st.

I’m back, my friend.

This is me at my San Gabriel Valley, Ca chapter meeting. My son helped with the raffles!
I really do believe that with my hormonal imbalance, only having one car because our second car decided to poop out in a costly manner, and then my husband’s kidneys deciding to poop out due to diabetic complications all happening in one month was just a little too much, perhaps. Especially when I figure in my daily tasks involving my son’s homeschooling charter program, running a national organization of work-at-home moms (all with similar challenges), leading two of the organization’s local chapters and….accepting a leadership position with a new direct sales company. Good Grief, Charlie Brown! I’m surprised I haven’t collapsed!

What keeps me going is love.
I love the people in my life. If I don’t love ‘em…they are not in my daily life.
I love what I do. If I don’t love what I’m doing each day….I do not continue to do it.
I love who I am. If I don’t love who I am…I can’t love anyone or anything else properly.

Yeah....that and the blessings and grace of God!

After some much needed down time, I must say that I do feel better and I’m ready to get back to blogging. Hooray!

While I’ve been resting, I re-read the book “Do You!” by Russell Simmons. I have decided to share my thoughts of each chapter with you in the coming weeks.
That should be fun, huh?

I'm thinking of GiGi today

2009-03-10T19:35:00.000-07:00

"Courage is being scared to death... and saddling up anyway." ~John Wayne

About 15 years ago, I found the above quote written in the back of my great-grandma’s bible. John Wayne was one of her favorite actors. I’m almost certain that my great-grandma (GiGi for short) saw every movie John Wayne ever made.

I'm thinking of GiGi today.
The last few weeks have been very challenging personally. When I find myself challenged, I always look back to my greatest leader, GiGi. She was a single mom who worked full-time cleaning hospital rooms, put herself through nursing school and started a small bakery business after she retired at the age of 72. I used to wonder how she was able to manage to handle so many challenges in her life and never seem weary. GiGi never seemed tired, sad or scared. She remained a rock through the most dismal of circumstances; handling each hurdle with humor and grace. I realize now, though she did seem very strong, she most definitely had feelings of fear, sadness and exhaustion. That’s why GiGi kept one of her favorite quotes in the back of one of her favorite books.

While having his third round of dialysis this afternoon, my husband quietly took my hand and thanked me for being so great about things. At first I thought “Great about what? I feel like a deer caught in the headlights of an on-coming truck. I’m tired and I don’t know what I’m going to use for strength in order to get through this. Sigh!” But what came out of my mouth was “It’s no big deal. We’ll get through this just like we get through everything else…I’ll order the food and you go buy the booze!” We both laughed. We both felt a little better about yet another seemingly impossible situation.

Okay, Okay…I have to confess! There was one more quote I found in the back of GiGi’s bible. It was the same flavor…just worded differently:

“When you find yourself going through Hell, keep going. If you stay there, your ass will surely burn.” I don’t know who said that one but the words really paint a good picture!

So when you feel like you are not being very brave, remember one of my GiGi’s favorite quotes.

A Great Standard for Entrepreneurs

2009-03-02T18:04:00.000-08:00

"The truth of the matter is that there's nothing you can't accomplish if: (1) You clearly decide what it is that you're absolutely committed to achieving, (2) You're willing to take massive action, (3) You take notice to what's working or not, and (4) You continue to change your approach until you achieve what you want, using whatever life gives you along the way." -- Anthony Robbins

I’m in the middle of updating the Moms Making Money National Website. It started with an attempt to match the colors to the member only section of the site and the next thing I knew I had a whole new look for my online presence! It was fun to change things around and play with new color palettes. I added the above quote from Anthony Robbins to the bottom of the national page. I keep his quote posted in my home office because it is one of my favorites and the words help me stay focused on my goals.

I’m currently in the 3rd step of Mr. Robbins’ advice. I have been looking around at my overall business and its practice to see what’s working and what’s dangling in the wind.
My biggest concern right now is getting rid of my time wasters; that’s the stuff I do on a daily basis that is not bringing me a good return on my investment of time. It is my goal for March to make room for other productive tasks which will allow me to achieve more profitability when I perform them. For example: I really need to use a timer when I’m on the social networking pages…I could lose up to 4 hours a day on those things!

Do you have any time saving ideas I can implement when I’m networking online?

A Rebel With a Pause Update

2009-02-24T17:52:00.000-08:00

It’s been a while since I posted to my blog, I know.
Seems like I have just enough energy these days to do the very basics, which is still a lot by most people’s standards. Honestly, I’m still struggling with my hormone levels. I’m still so very tired. Everyday I feel like I have PMS and the flu at the same time. Before I choose the right course of therapy, I wanted to get a second, third and fourth medical opinion. That caused quite a bit of freeway travel (with my little one in tow) and out of pocket expenses, which of course, made me even more tired. But hey, my health is worth it, right? All four doctors agree that my diagnosis is perimenopause with burnt out adrenal glands, however only two of the doctors suggested HRT. The other two doctors (the two I agree with) feel that HRT for my particular symptoms would be too aggressive at this point. Sigh! I think I’ll follow my heart and try acupuncture.

I found this really cool peri menopause support group on facebook. They are so funny and open about their experience. If you are struggling with THOSE symptoms too and would rather laugh about than cry, I highly suggest you check them out!

I’ll update you as I find an acupuncturist; meanwhile I need to get want to get back to business: Check out my new Facebook group for work-at-home moms!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63378494917 Join the discussions. It’s free!

Balance Can Be a Real Bee-otch

2009-02-11T17:10:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I scheduled a guest speaker for one of my chapters. Since then, I have been chasing this person in an attempt to gather more conclusive information about the talk. After all, how am I supposed to successfully market and present this to my group if the information is muddled at its best?
I’m extremely familiar with this speaker and the company of whom she represents. They are very well known and highly respected within their industry, however at this moment; it’s clear that this company is challenged with their overall system of following through when a prospect says “yes”. Balance can be a real Bee-otch.

The good out of this unnecessary situation is that this whole thing has made me take a closer look at how I perform as a service provider.

The truth is I too have been really struggling with the balance of my work and home responsibilities. Lately it seems like everything is just as important as everything else which has made it very hard for me to prioritize my daily tasks. I’m so busy that I become tired and then my weariness turns into uglier words like “vague” and “distracted”. I’m certain that I’m not demonstrating my best, either.

Since I’m a sole proprietor, the buck literally starts and stops with me. Sigh.

I have determined to handle my balancing dilemma by referring to my core values and beliefs. Doing this always helps me to identify the difference of what is unmistakably important to me versus what I “wish” to be important.
After a few days of soul searching, I made some tough decisions regarding how I move forward in my own business. Though I will take out a couple of things that I do each day to grow my business, I have undoubtedly freed up more time for me to be accessible to my clients and be more creative with the future development of my organization. This action will alleviate my personal struggle of trying to balance too much and fend off my own muddled and inconclusive deeds.

Wow! I owe this powerful revelation to a bunch of multi-million-dollar- producing-ding-a-lings. Thanks guys, but you are still fired.

OPEN

2009-02-09T18:46:00.000-08:00

Today, I hosted a free teleseminar for the Moms Making Money Organization on blogging. It was led by Wendy Maynard for gomarketingmaven.com. She is so open to sharing her vast marketing knowledge that I had to stop for moment in my busy day and encourage you to go and sign up for her newsletter.

I use the word “open” to describe Wendy because in my experience in connecting with other entrepreneurs I have found that most embrace the “I’ll tell ya, but it’s gonna cost ya” mentality….even if you just want basic information. I know it works well for them, but it is a real turn off for me. I found Wendy to be just the opposite. She will tell ya, and even explain it again if you want her to. Then she will charge ya to help you apply it in the correct way. What a concept!

Makes complete strangers want to give her an unsolicited testimonial. Like I just did.

I’m a huge believer in giving with your whole heart instead of giving with the expectation of monetary reward. I believe that money effortlessly connects with you when you are being authentic and “open”. This belief system works for me and I’m certain it will work for you too.

One important thing that I did learn during the teleseminar today was the importance of allowing readers to comment on my blog. What can I say? I’m a novice. So I’m going to allow that "open" dialog to commence with this post.

Must have a big heart and be willing to work hard for what you want!

2009-01-30T17:55:00.000-08:00

I just have a quick blurb for you today.
A friend forwarded an email to me yesterday. It was about why one of her mentors uses a giraffe as her logo. My friend quickly thought of me and shared the info. Hmmm…Seems I’m not the only one who identifies with this amazing animal.

Here is part of the email with a link to the birth of a baby giraffe…..Ouch!

“Get Up & Get Going! www.ilenemeckley.com
As many of you know, the giraffe serves as the logo for my company, because the giraffe possesses the largest heart in the animal kingdom. Recently, I learned something else about giraffes. When first born, a giraffe is able to stand within only 45 minutes. With the encouragement of the parents, the baby giraffe instinctively knows that to survive, and thrive, it must get up – and get going! I think that’s a lesson we can all take to heart. For a rare look at the birth of a baby giraffe, check this out!
Click here to watch the Birth of a Giraffe…”

Is this Cool, Interesting or Funny?

What is stopping you right now?

2009-01-28T14:43:00.000-08:00

Did you know that before I moved completely into running a national organization of work at home moms, I was a full-time profit consultant? I offered profit generating strategies for direct sellers and network marketers. I have to admit, not many of my clients executed the tactics that I shared with them. Largely because they discovered that there was no “magic pill” that they could swallow that would morph them into millionaires. However, a few of my clients did apply and implement my suggestions on a daily basis and found themselves generating five to ten times more money than what they were originally making.

Though I don’t coach 1-on1 any more, I do like to keep in contact with my former clients. This morning I was eager to check in on a few and wish them a fabulous 2009.
One in particular is still on my mind. She had followed my suggestions to the letter and began to generate 6 figures. Wow! When I spoke with her today, she informed me that she is now barely making ends meet. She went on to explain that the economy made it too difficult for her to do business. I asked in my usual mamma tone, “Oh yeah, and just how did the economy bring you down from 6 figures to zip figures?” She laughed and said “Don’t you look at the news?” I assured her that I look at the news once, maybe even twice a day. I prodded further, “Did watching the news make you lose money?” “No” she continued abruptly, “I guess I just lost my focus with everything that’s happening”. “That’s completely understandable”, I said “But I still don’t understand how you could crash and burn in less than a year….” My former client laughed nervously and replied “Girl, they kept telling me that everybody was broke, so I stopped looking for new customers.”
Now you are probably wondering what the heck happened to the customers that she did have, huh? So I was I! She went on to explain that a few of her customers could no longer afford her products. This made her feel that because of the fall of the economy, her success was over. She didn’t know what to do, so she did nothing.
I inquired further, this time in my Dr. Phil voice, “…and how’s that working for ya?”

Amazing huh? Just a few choice words from a few choice people can destroy your business, if you allow it.

Of course, I offered my consultant services for 6 months. And of course, she agreed and will be generating 6 figures once again.

I share this with you because I want you to remember:

It doesn’t matter how much coaching, training and consulting you receive. If you don’t follow through and stay consistent in building your business…your business is toast.

Doing nothing is not an option.

Even if you are a top producer, there is always more that you can discover and apply to your own business. The world is always in a state of change. You and your business must adjust and flow with it.

Most people need to watch their pennies these days, but not everyone is completely bankrupt.

Every million dollar producing business owner that I have had the pleasure of speaking with all said the same thing. They are committed to their business regardless of______________. (You can fill in the blank with what ever is stopping you right now)

Rebel With A Pause

2009-01-20T16:16:00.000-08:00

Oh man, I really hit the wall last week!
Let me start by saying that I have been feeling like I’m pushing my apple cart up a steep hill since May of 2007. I’m exhausted when I wake up. I’m pooped most of the day, and then I pass out at night. I’m sensitive to the cold, the heat, loud noises, and too much quite. In a nutshell, I feel like I’m loosing my grip! I tried vitamins, herbs, more sleep, less sleep, more fun, less work, organic food and meditation. Nothing was helping.

Last week was the last straw for me. I couldn’t sleep very well, I had hard time concentrating, I felt like burying my husband alive in the back yard and I had a raging migraine that refused to go away. Sounded like a little more than an over-worked wahm to me, so I went to see my doctor.

Well… you have probably already guessed what my main medical issue is. I suppose at 45 years of age, hormone levels spiking and crashing can be expected. SIGH. But that’s not all. I also have a Thyroid issue as well. Now that’s something that I didn’t even consider. Yeah, though the divine Ms .Oprah mentioned her thyroid problem about a 1000 times on her shows last year, I still didn’t connect the dots. I was too busy being mom-preneur extraordinaire.

Interestingly enough, “Ops” must have sensed my pain because when I got back from the doctor, I sat down to watch her show and it was all about Hormone Replacement Therapy. Kismet. I feel better knowing that I was not bi-polar and I didn’t have some weird chick cancer…even though it felt like a combination of the two. And…I really feel better knowing I’m not the only one. As soon as my labs come back, I will choose the right course of treatment for myself.

Meanwhile, I share my story with you because:

1. If you don’t feel well and you can’t put your finger on what’s wrong. See your doctor for a physical and be sure to have your hormone and thyroid levels checked. Do your homework so you will know what your numbers should be in comparison to what they actually are. Here’s two really good links for you to check out: http://www.oprah.com/subtopic/health/womenshealth and http://www.drnorthrup.com/womenshealth/healthconditions/index.php

2. Not feeling well is a terrific excuse not to do the difficult things that we need to do as mom-business owners. Not many would blame us if we gave up because of health reasons. However, not many have succeeded in reaching their goals as well.
Stay committed. Be a rebel and don’t ever give up on your dreams. EVER!

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Friends with Referrals

2009-01-09T18:38:00.000-08:00

I spent the last two days poking around on Facebook. It’s really addictive, but I highly recommend it if you are trying to build a large online presence for your business! I haven’t made many friends yet because I’m still trying to understand the Facebook rules of networking, but I’m having a ball connecting with the few friends that I have met.
If you are on Facebook, look me up. I’d love to connect!

Why do I feel it is important for me to participate with social networks? It’s because I’m home-based. I don’t have a store-front (yet) and I’m not listed in the yellow pages. Because I do work from home and chose to also homeschool my son, it can be very hard for me to find time to attend live networking events during the week. These events usually hold sessions in the mornings or afternoons when I’m at my busiest or in the evenings when I’m at my sleepiest. So I rely on word-of-mouth. And guess what? I have found that it works far better than placing ads in newspapers or passing out business cards at events. It’s all about building and maintaining authentic relationships with the people that you do know.

My networking plan for 2009
Pick one live Business Networking Group to be a part of:
I chose my city’s chamber of commerce because I am very community driven and I want to connect with my local female small business owners.

Pick two Online Networking Sites to be a part of:
I chose Meetup.com to network with the members of the Moms Making Money chapters online as well as keep them informed of my live and tele events.
Originally, I chose LinkedIn as my main social networking site but, as you probably already guessed, my new love is Facebook. It’s just more fun!

My goal is to build my network of “Friends with Referrals” slowly and genuinely. I know it’s cool to have 6000 people in my network, but I haven’t the foggiest idea how I would genuinely connect with 6000 people all at once. So I’ll add friends to my network as they naturally arrive.

Wishing you good health and prosperity!

Cinnamon rolls and ice cold Coca-Cola

2009-01-07T19:35:00.000-08:00

Today was my first day back to my well planned schedule of balancing working at home with living at home. My husband, Ed, took a holiday vacation that lasted for 2 ½ weeks --which in turn threw my schedule off for 2 ½ weeks. Don’t get me wrong, it was wonderful seeing him finally get some much needed rest and I did enjoy having him home during the day for a change, however, I’ve come to the conclusion that I can only be happily productive in my home office when I’m the only alpha dog in the house!

As the returning alpha dog, today I started the morning with a cinnamon roll and an ice cold Coca-Cola, then spent the afternoon re-connecting with business colleagues by phone while dusting, mopping and rocking out to alternative music. Ahhhh, I think I’m Zen again! My 7 year-old son, Evan joyously slept in, played video games, read books, watched TV and occasionally jumped for joy because he still has a few more days of holiday vacation remaining before school starts a again.

What I learned today:

FaceBook seems to be the way to go if you are trying to build a bigger online presence.
I’m going to create my account tomorrow. Look me up, okay?

I tried a “Get Paid to Read Emails” site about a month ago to see if it really works and it does. I got a $30 dollar check in the mail today. Not a lot of money, but its $30 more than what I had yesterday. I put a link at the bottom right corner of this blog…just in case you want to try it out too.

Cinnamon rolls and ice old Coca-Cola too early in the morning makes your tummy bubbly! Sigh, it was worth it. My alpha position has been re-activated!

Wishing You Good Health and Prosperity~

My First Post

2009-01-05T17:14:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the first post of my new blog!

I’ll start by sharing with you why I decided to start this blog in the first place.

I want to share my journey as a mom entrepreneur and all that it means with other rising mom entrepreneurs.

Most people that I run into either think that running a business from home while running a household, plus raising a family is really easy to do or it’s logically impossible. Well, which ever initial thought they may have, they would be right. It’s great, it’s horrible, it’s easy, it’s impossible, it’s rewarding and it’s thankless. But for the true mom entrepreneur spirit, like what we possess, it’s all worth it!

Since I’m not a writer or even have great command of the English language, I also request that you overlook any grammar and/or typos. Instead dwelling on the format, please pay attention to the soul of my words.

I hope your continued visit to my blog will help you feel better by knowing that you are not alone in your daily challenges as an amazing and profitable mom entrepreneur.

Wishing you good health and prosperity!