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A Step by Step Guide
to Successful Self
Employment ($39 Value)
Free guide here:
Do you need more info to reach your goal?
Mar 6th
I want to give you a tip that will make it much easier to reach your goals.
At some point, in going after your goal, you are going to be stopped by a lack of information.
Now I honestly don’t like doing a lot of research. But here are some of the techniques I enjoy using to get information when I’m stuck:
1. Tell people what your wish is and the obstacle you face. You won’t believe how quickly people (even strangers!) will jump right into problem-solving mode and you’ll be given information or contacts who can give you the solution…try it…really…you’ll be amazed!
2. Go to the library (online).
I love libraries. When I was six years old, a friend took me on my first trip to a library. I was astounded and absolutely delighted to learn that I could take 5 books home and it was free!
Today, I can access mountains of popular magazines, scholarly journals, and databases on everything from history to science to health right from my computer. All you need is a library card number. Go to your local public libraries website and find their online databases. You will find information here that will get you unstuck. The only downside (if you want to call it that!) to this method is that you can spend hours happily sifting for gold in this treasure trove!
3. Got to conferences, association meetings and trade shows.
There’s nothing like hanging out with a bunch of people who share your interest. The Encyclopedia of Associations lists every group and association that meets regularly in the U.S. and even worldwide.
So, what’s a goal you’d love to achieve? Are you stopped by lack of information? Try one of my favorite techniques this week and find out how great it is to get just the information you need to keep moving forward.
Drop a line on my blog and let me know how it goes!
Are you ready for transformation?
Feb 26th
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What is transformation? And more importantly, how does it happen? The dictionary tells you that transformation is a change in form, appearance, nature, or character. Peter Senge, a faculty member at MIT and an expert on learning organizations, states, “as W. Edwards Deming says, nothing happens without “personal transformation.” And the only safe space to allow for this transformation is a learning community.”
On the final call of a four week Authentic Life Institute class, one participant, who had actively engaged with the reading material and phone calls, said that the course had transformed her. It was a powerful statement, you could tell it was true, and it filled me with gratitude that this learning community we’ve formed is making a true difference by creating the safe (and fun!) space for transformative experiences.
I think that, while transformation often happens subtly, so quietly that you don’t even notice, there ARE times when you are acutely aware that something in your mind has just shifted in a way that is more expansive, in a way that affirms your powerfulness, in a way that feels so true you wonder how you ever didn’t know this.
As Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “One’s mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.”
While I don’t think you can “do” transformation in a step-by-step linear process, I can give you some ideas on how to cultivate the fertile soil of your mind, so you are ready to experience transformation when a new, expansive seed thought is planted.
1. Participate in supportive groups. As in introvert, I know this can be a challenge and a stretch. I’ve gone long periods of time without being in groups and have found that when I do, I begin to wither. You need to be listened to deeply and without judgment. This process allows you time and space to think. And in the right groups, you are asked questions to help you remove mind blocks and think of things that were unimaginable to you before.
2. Think of how far you’ve come. You are, by nature, always evolving. Take a look back at your life…how many different people have you been? I bet you can see tremendous changes that have happened in the way you view the world and yourself. Even though you may not have felt like you were changing -in the long view, you can see that you have.
3. Be a gentle observer of yourself and others. Letting go of judgment, of yourself and others, is a powerful way to experience transformation. The energy you create in yourself when judging is strong and negative. Know that in any given situation you are doing the best you can. If you are reflecting about something you’ve done and feel you could have improved on it -fine! Next time try something different to make it even better. But don’t beat yourself up about what is done. The past has no precedence. What do I mean by that? You can create your future, in the way that you choose, no matter what you have done in the past.
Watch for your own transformations. It can be as simple as using different words to describe your business that make you feel more confident and capable…and when you feel so, you are!
I would love to hear your transformation stories. Post one here. You never know who might be inspired by your transformation!
Stinking Thinking
Feb 19th
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Do you find yourself caught up in a lot of “stinking thinking?” When you wishfully think of something, do you immediately stop yourself with a “I can’t have, do or be that!”
How about when someone presents an idea to you – a dream they have -and it totally seems off the wall. Do you say, “well, it won’t be easy.” Or, “you’ve got a long road ahead.” Instead, why not say “great! what would have to happen to make that come true?”
See the difference. Once you start thinking about what the outcome would be, your brain will start getting creative and will begin to draft out steps you’ll take. You probably won’t know every step needed to reach your dream. But if you start in the direction your wise inner self guides you to, you’ll be led to the next step, the next person.
This is the power of planning. To me making plans is like playing. And to be honest, many of my plans go out the window. The secret is, that while you’re following your initial plan, all kinds of unexpected and wonderful things occur.
You meet just the right person who can help you with the next step towards your dream. You stumble upon a book that has just the key you need to unlock some blocked area you had. You stop into the “wrong” office and run into an old friend who can help you.
Planning in this way, loosely attached to the exact outcome, is the only way your dreams become real. Action rocks. You don’t have to create your entire dream alone…matter of fact, you can’t. When you get in the game, and take action in the world, the world will meet you and give you more than you can imagine.
Would love to see your comments here. Post a dream you have! You never know who might have a missing link you need.
Facebook: How to Set Up A Fan Page
Feb 12th
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Yes, Facebook is a fun way to keep in touch with your buddies and family and to reconnect with people you’ve lost contact with. AND, it’s also a powerful marketing tool if you use it right.
Some people choose to set up a private page for just family and friends while creating a separate page for business. I’ve chosen to blend the two on my “wall” so that potential clients/customers can get a feel for who I authentically am.
I’m in the process of creating a “fan page” specifically for my business (watch for a contest announcement in March!). I thought I’d share some of what I’ve learned with you.
1. Some facts about Facebook. Think that your ideal client is not on Facebook? Think again. In 2009, Facebook had 350 million users and it keeps growing. Facebook reaches 56% of people using the internet in the U.S. and many more in other countries. Just over 70% of Facebook users come from outside the U.S.
11% of users are ages 13-17, 29% are 18-25, 23% are 26-34, 18% are 35-44, 12% are 45-54, 7% are 55-65. Facebook is the #3 site visited by users 65 and older!
2. Why Are You Doing This Anyway? Before you dive in take some time to set your goals and expectations of your Facebook Fan Page. You may want to sell a certain number of books, you may want to get booked for a certain amount of speaking gigs each month, you may want to establish yourself as an expert, or you may want to fill up your coaching group.
3. How to Create a Fan Page. Go to www.facebook.com. Scroll way to the bottom to the fine print and click on “advertising”. On the left hand side of the page, click on pages. Then click on “create page”. Now you’re ready to create your fan page (it’s free!).
4. Start a discussion. One of the great things about a Facebook Fan Page is that you can interact with your tribe. You’ll see a “discussion” folder tab at the top of the page. Post a question you’d like to get opinions or ideas about.
5. Post some photos and videos. Everyone enjoys seeing you in “real life” situations. It’s also great to post photos of you with experts or local celebrities.
6. Invite people to join your fan page. Send an email to your list inviting them to become a fan. Run a contest like I’m doing to encourage participation. If you already have a Facebook profile page (this is different from the Fan Page) you can invite your “friends” to become fans. On the Facebook Fan Page, scroll all the way down to the bottom left. You’ll see a “share” button. Click on it and you’ll see your Fan Page Profile and your list of current Facebook Friends. You can select who to send an invitation to or click “all”.
You can post an invitation on your blog, you can twitter about it, if you have a profile on Linked In you can post an update about your new Facebook fan page.
Want a powerful, no cost way to build your list of raving fans? Get going on building your Facebook Fan Page! When you get your Fan Page up, post a note and link to your Facebook fan page on my blog and I’ll become a fan of yours AND my blog readers just might also! http://authenticlifeinstitute.com/blog/
How To Solve Problems
Feb 5th
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What do you do when you hit a problem in your business? Maybe it’s how to generate more income, how to build a client list or how to create an information product. Too often you might find yourself getting stopped by a problem and just giving up. Here’s what you can do to get past those problems and on to doing what you love to do.
Jim Rohn, the wonderful motivational speaker, said to go inside first and see if you can come up a solution. If that doesn’t work, go to a book or internet sources to see if you can find an answer. If that doesn’t work, ask someone else who is where you want to be. This is good advice. Let’s explore further.
1. Go inside. You have an extraordinary amount of wisdom right inside yourself –from your past experiences and from your natural preferences. One great way to get your answers from within is to take some time to get quiet. Make a list of teachers you’ve had that made a positive impact on you. Some may have been conventional teachers; others may be people you met who were not in a classroom. You can even consider famous people, people who have died or you haven’t met in person but you learned something valuable from them. Now choose one that jumps out at you right now.
Now write out a dialogue between you and this person. Ask him/her for advice. I can bet you will find some powerful insights into how to solve your problem
2. Get some more information. When someone tells me they’re stuck on a problem, I quickly assess whether it is a lack of information that is the real problem. It often is. I’m amazed at how many people don’t take the time to seek information through books and the internet. Often there is someone out there who has solved a problem similar to yours and you can quickly get ideas about how to solve your problem.
3. Ask someone else. If you still can’t figure out how to get past your problem after going inside and doing some research…now is the time to ask someone else. Most people are willing to share information and help you IF you show them that you have done some research prior to asking them. It’s startling how many people ask me for advice and information and when I ask them what they’ve done so far to solve their problem…they say “nothing”.
I’ll give you a concrete example. You want to run a tour business. You don’t know where to start and feel overwhelmed every time you think about this idea…but it just won’t go away.
First, you take time and journal with your teacher within. You have a dialogue and get encouragement from the teacher that you are on the right track. You even get some ideas about where you would like to lead tours and get a strong sense of the feelings of satisfaction and joy you’ll get when you achieve this goal.
Now you think, “I don’t know how to start. What insurance do I need? How do I hire a bus? What kind of outdoor microphone will I need so that people can hear me? How will I find people to enroll for my tours?”
So you go to Google and type in “how to lead tours”. You get nothing useful. So you try, “how to be a tour guide”. Bingo. You get a great article with lots of information and a link to an online course on the topic. You subscribe for the course. You then do an Amazon search and find a book that looks great on this topic so you order it.
After you’ve taken the course and read the book, you are about 100% confident that you’d like to achieve the goal of becoming a tour guide but you’d like to talk to some people who are actually doing it to get the real scoop on what it’s like and maybe ideas on how to break into the field.
Now, if you don’t already know someone in the field, it’s time to look up a few people in the field, approach them by email to request a 20 minute informational interview by phone. Send an email that says that you are interested in entering the field, you’ve taken a course and read about the field and now want to get some real world information.
Tell them that you’ll have 5-10 questions prepared before the call and that you’d be happy to email the questions to them prior to the call. You might want to ask what the best part of their work is and what the worst part of their work is. Don’t ask specific salaries, though you may ask what would be an expected range of pay for a beginner and for someone advanced in the field.
People are generally very happy to help out, happy to share information about work they love AND they will be impressed that you did your research prior to seeking them out.
So go ahead. What’s a problem you have? Try the 3 steps above and get unstuck now!
Repurpose Your Way To Making More Money With Less Effort and Time
Jan 28th
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What the heck do I mean by “repurpose?” Well it’s when you do one thing and then spin that one thing into many. Let’s take a look at how this might work.
1. Write a top ten tip sheet. My first one was called “Top Ten Ways to Live Authentically.” I wrote it 10 years ago and put it online and I still get feedback from it!
2. Flesh out each of your top ten tips into a few paragraphs and now you have an article. Write a 400-600 word article expanding on your top ten tips. You put a “call to action” resource box at the end of the article. A resource box is the jargon term that online article databases use…kind of like a byline, only it’s much more.
Don’t make the mistake of using the few sentences you have here by talking about your bio data. Instead, give people a reason to go to your website and get something free, and of value, in exchange for their email address.
That one article becomes a client list builder. And the beauty of it is that article remains online for a very long time AND other website/blog owners looking for good content, may ask you if they can post your articles WITH your website, on their webs/blogs…this happens to me several times a year.
3. Create an e-course out of your top ten tips. Set them up in an autoresponder like Aweber or 1shopping cart. Now you have something of value to give away in exchange for a person’s email address. AND the best part is, they will receive 10 different emails from you, maybe one a week. That helps build relationships. If you’re really on top of it, you’ll have a call to action at the end of each of the weekly emails.
4. Rework your article into a press release. The key to getting your press releases published is to tie your content into something interesting and newsworthy. An example from my biz might be to write about how self employments may be the key to turning around the economy and then add the content of my article.
You can submit press releases to your local newspapers, business journals and online for free (or fee). One free online source is http://www.1888pressrelease.com/.
5. Create a teleseminar based on your article content. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Your content can be used in many ways. Teleseminars are a great way to build your list and to promote an upcoming fee-based teleseminar series.
6. Create a video of you teaching some of the content and post it on YouTube. You can do this easily with an inexpensive FlipCam. It doesn’t have to be professional. Just be you. YouTube gets tons of web searches each day. Some folks just plain prefer to learn by video.
And that’s just the beginning! The next time you decide to create something, brainstorm all the possible ways it can be used.
Did You Set Your Goals?
Jan 5th
I’ve thought a lot about how to accomplish goals and whether or not I should bother. Probably like you, I was never taught to set goals as a child. When I hit college, I had an amazing writing instructor who gave us a long list of fiction novels we’d be reading and weekly writing assignments.
She set us up for success. Now this may sound simple, but to me it was a huge aha moment. She told us to look at the number of pages we needed to read that week and to divide that number by the seven days we had to read and voila! I now knew how many pages I had to read each day…and I knew if I skipped a day to go to the beach, that I’d have to add those extra pages to my daily reading for the rest of the week.
It really hit me that I had been living a life with no goals. Oh…there were vague yearnings about things I wanted to do like travel and things I wanted to have…but I never set an actual goal to achieve them.
Other times, I think that living without goals sounds best. Just get up in the morning, see what the day brings and do what I’d like.
For now, I’ve settled on a happy medium. I believe that setting great goals has stretched me into being even more of who I am and serving more people with my talents and strengths. It’s also helped me increase my income while doing things I enjoy.
AND, I’m sure to allow plenty of time each week to just follow my heart with no goals in sight.
This works for me… I’d love to hear your comments about goal setting!
Authentic Living
Dec 28th
What does authentic living mean to you? The end of the year is a great time to look inside and give some thought to the topic.
An authentic woman (or man) brings an air of assurance, calm, poise, peace to a room or situation. They are living in congruency…meaning their words and actions are aligned with their thoughts, values and purpose. Do you know someone like this?
How do you become more authentic? As the ancient philosophers told us “know thyself.” You may think, “well of course I know myself,” but think again. You may know who society suggests you should be through t.v. commercials and glossy magazine ads. You may know yourself as your parents wished you to be.
Under all the messages you’ve received about yourself is the “real you.” Your authentic self. The you that could wake up excited to start each day. The you who almost always is doing things you love to do. The you who brings authentic love to your relationships. The you who freely gives of your talents and reaps amazing prosperity. The you who doesn’t hide your light.
How to uncover that you? It’s always there…it just needs some silence and support to emerge…these are tools most folks don’t take time to give themselves. I can guarantee you…that every successful person you know, every person who walks in the room being authentic does some or all of these things:
1. Pay attention to your inner world. A journal is a great way to start. Don’t worry about getting the “right kind.” Choose one that you can carry with you everywhere easily. Choose one that appeals to your senses…that you’ll love picking up to write in.
Then just start. Write daily or a few times a week. Just make it a habit to visit your inner world and get some of your thoughts, observations, emotions and ideas on paper. As Socrates said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.”
2. Make a list of 25-50 things you’d like to be, do, have in the next 10 years. As Jim Rohn pointed out to me, we have about ten 10’s in our lifetime. Make your next precious ten fantastic!
When you’re making your list, ignore the resistance that occurs in the form of your inner critic saying you can’t possibly be, do or have THAT. Just bless it for caring and shoo it away…then turn your thoughts back to the excitement and joy you feel as you imagine these things already here in your life.
Once you’re done…mark 1 year, 5 year, 10 year next to each item showing when you will have it done. Then take 3-4 of your one year goals and map out the actions you need to do to get there (don’t worry if you don’t have all the “hows”) sometimes the first step is to get information.
Look at your most important 5 and 10 year goals and determine if there is some steps that need to be taken this year to get them rolling.
Calendar out your actions for the next 3 months and get into action!
3. Find an authentic forum where you can be listened to and supported with ideas, contacts and genuine encouragement. When two or more come together amazing things, beyond what we can ever do alone, come to pass.
Don’t let your dreams die in isolation. This is the thing I see the most in people who are struggling and it hurts my heart that they are not engaged in authentic living.
Let this next decade be YOUR time to live YOUR life. Your authentic life.
Reconciliation
Dec 24th
What does reconciliation have to do with your business?
No, I don’t mean your bank reconciliation. I mean a reconciliation of the heart. Some of the definitions of reconcile are: to compose or settle (a quarrel, dispute, etc.) and to bring into agreement or harmony.
There is a tradition in Iceland at Christmas. Every thing must be clean. Every nook and cranny of the house must be immaculate. Anything that needs to be repaired, no matter how small, must be put in order.
This is symbolic. The real meaning is a reconciliation of the heart.
If you have anything that is “out of order” in your relationships with others or yourself. If you have any thing that needs to be said or completed in order to feel at peace…now is the perfect time to do it!
People’s hearts are more open and tender at this time of year…take the opportunity to connect, reconnect, forgive or ask for forgiveness.
And what does this have to do with your business….everything! When you are living in integrity, with a peaceful heart, you are freeing up a tremendous amount of emotional and mental energy…freeing you to be creative in your ideas. And it is from your ideas that your business is built, grows and prospers.
Wishing you all the very best of all good things this holiday season and in 2010.
Goal Setting For Success Press Release
Dec 22nd
“Breakthrough to the Best You in 2010: Create Your Powerful Yet Simple Goal Setting and Time Management System That Works!” Free Tele-Conference Open to Public
Many believe that 2009 was the worst year they ever experienced. What can we do about this? Plan ahead to make 2010 a year where you turn things around, make smart choices and build the future you want in all areas, including finances, relationships, physical and emotional health.. Hosted by Authentic Life Institute, this free tele-seminar demystifies the goal setting process and provides concrete steps for taking control of your precious time and ensuring success.
San Juan Capistrano, CA AddPR.com, December 22, 2009
The economy has battered and bruised many people. They often feel that life is spinning out of control. They react out of fear and maybe aren’t making the best choices.
What can be done? The best remedy is to take charge of your life. There is nothing that dispels fear like a well thought out goal and taking actions to achieve it.
Fact –Less than 15% of people write their goals down in specific, measurable, detail. (Source- www.ThinkTQ.com)
Fact- Only 12% have at least one clearly defined goal for every major interest in their life. (Source- www.ThinkTQ.com)
Fact- Only 22% share your goals with others for mutual accomplishment. (Source- www.ThinkTQ.com)
Who wouldn’t want to be create their vision, have a clear plan to achieve it, know what actions are most important to take each day to live a life filled with peace of mind, financial freedom, a healthier body and joyful relationships?
Honestly? Not everyone. Most people aren’t willing to take the quiet, inner time to think through goals and actions; however, now, more than ever, people are questioning the direction of their lives, seeking more meaning and purpose along with material security and success.
To address the problem of financial adversity and lack of clear direction and to promote the benefits of goal setting and time management, Authentic Life Institute, a virtual learning center reaching more than 17,000 people monthly, is hosting a free tele-teleseminar (via telephone) on January 6, 2010, open to the public on “Breakthrough to the Best You in 2010: Create Your
Powerful Yet Simple Goal Setting and Time Management System That Works!”
Topics covered include-
- Why set your goals?
- A simple but powerful goal setting system
- Action planning to accomplish your goals with ease and success
- Time Integrity -It’s Your Time, How Will You Use It?
Ann Ronan, Ph.D., founder of Authentic Life Institute states “Starting with a vision for your life and then creating a definite plan to achieve it with planned out action steps and support is the absolute key to success in life. It is my mission to help others live their authentic life – a life of purpose and meaning with all the money needed to live a truly rich life.”
For more information visit http://authenticlifeinstitute.com/classes/january-6-2010/
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