Happy summer to you! Have you taken time for some summer fun?  In Connecticut, we are anticipating a heat wave this week, so I look forward to cooling off at the beach some time in the next few days.

I’ve been out of touch for quite some time.  So, where have I been?

In the past 9 months, I’ve been experiencing some major life hurdles, including a divorce (and name change), a move, and a long-term illness.  While I have been busy coaching and consulting during this time, I did take a break from a majority of my teaching, blogging, and other writing.  I just couldn’t do it all.

You might be thinking, “Wow, this is personal.  Why is she telling me this?”

Well first, because it’s the truth.  And, I’m a firm believer in the truth.

And second, because I want to demonstrate a point. 

As business people, we always try to present our best selves to the world.  We put on a big smile and act like everything is OK, even when it’s not, because we don’t want anyone to know we are struggling.  We try to keep things quiet, because we think it’s bad for business.

There does come a point, however, when it stops working.  The facade begins to crumble.  Afterall, even business people are human beings.  By pure virtue of being alive, many of us will face a personal challenge at some point in our lives that will affect our work.

You might be thinking that you are doing a good job hiding it, but customers and clients can see the cracks.  Somehow you just aren’t the same.  Your quality of work suffers, you are slow to respond, and you just aren’t able to deliver like you used to.  You know it, and they know it.  You are not fooling anyone.

It’s like leaks springing from a dam.  When you’ve got more holes spewing water than fingers to plug them, it’s time to come clean.  It’s better to be honest and make the appropriate arrangements to care for yourself and your clients.  You may need to take a break, hire help, or refer customers elsewhere to get their immediate needs met.  While this may translate into a loss of business, it can also save your business.  Because if your dam is starting to crack, people will leave anyway, but they’ll never come back.  But when you are honest, most people will stand by you — and even root for you!

Now mind you, I’m not an advocate for sharing intimate personal details with business contacts.  But when I have shared  my personal challenges even at a very surface level, I get nothing but respect and support.  By being open and transparent, I’m actually building trust and credibility.  I’m also creating opportunities for new solutions to arise, because people will often step in to help me, or they will back off and give me the space I need.  But none of this would happen without having that first, difficult conversation. 

I’d like to thank all of those in my business circles who have said kind words, lent me a hand, supported me, and cheered me on.  You better believe that those are the folks I’m going to do business with! 

SUPER INTERNS - is my newest project!

Please join us for our free upcoming teleclass:

How Everyone Can Work with Interns in Any Business!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
7 to 8 pm ET

Click here to REGISTER! It takes less than 30 seconds.   

Yes, everyone can have an intern!  Are you:

• a solopreneur
• a small business owner
• a big business owner
• a HR professional
• a stay at home mom or dad
• a business newbie
• a business veteran
• a hobbyist making money on the side (or would like to?)
• a multi-level marketer
• a coach, consultant, or other service professional
• alive and breathing?

Why?  Because ANYONE AND EVERYONE can learn how to work with interns to grow their business!   

Even if you:

• work from home
• are just starting your business
• don’t have everything all figured out

…you can still work with an intern.  In fact, getting an intern is one of the first things you should do in your business.  So if you haven’t done it yet, don’t wait!  

Want to learn our secrets?  Join us on the call!  You just need a phone to attend.  It’s that simple!

And if you can’t make the live call, register anyway!  We’ll email you a link to the recording, so you can listen at your convenience. 

Click here to REGISTER! It takes less than 30 seconds.   See you on the call!

Many coaches, consultants, and sales professionals rely on group meetings and seminars to market their businesses and to deliver free and fee-based programs. Traditional meeting space in hotels and conference centers is very expensive and often cost-prohibitive, unless you are a big business or are offering a high-priced workshop.

But, even if you can afford it — why give all of your profits away?

Especially for solopreneurs and those just starting a business, these spaces can be totally out of reach.

If you don’t need all of the bells and whistles of a high-level meeting space, such as audio/visual aids or the “complimentary” ice water, paper, and pens (you know you are paying for it in the price, right?), then there are lots of inexpensive — even FREE — places you can consider.

All you need is a little creativity and a great sales pitch, and you can approach virtually any place where people naturally gather and land yourself a great space! The key is creating a win-win relationship and selling the location on what’s in it for THEM! For starters, tell them how their name will appear on all of your marketing materials and look for other ways in which you both benefit.

When doing your research, here are 13 potential meeting locations to consider:

Continue reading ‘Got Groups? Save Money with Creative and Alternative Meeting Spaces’

Eating for Optimal Health: Nutrition Myths Revealed with Dr. Pamela A. Popper, Ph.D., N.D., founder and Executive Director of the Wellness Forum (http://www.wellnessforum.com/)

A lot of people think they are eating healthfully, when in actuality, they are not.  Unfortunately, most of what you see on TV and read in the news about nutrition and health is marketing and hype, not scientific fact (even when scientific studies are quoted!). 

Dr. Popper has made it her career and mission to deliver accurate, expert advice on optimal health and nutrition.  She is a highly acclaimed expert and speaker, who is not afraid to criticize national health organizations, government agencies, medical professionals, pharmaceutical companies, agricultural organizations and manufacturing companies, many of whom have agendas and priorities that interfere with distributing truthful information and promoting public health. 

In this class Dr. Popper will separate fact from fiction on some of the biggest nutritional issues, such as:

- Is the food pyramid the way to eat?
- Is dairy the nutritious food it claims to be?
- Should one take vitamins and supplements?
- Are genes responsible for making you fat?
- What diets are *really* safe and effective?
- Are organic foods better for you?

I promise you, you will NOT eat the same, nor will you want to, after this teleclass! 

Running time: 63 minutes

THIS WEEK in The Virtual Gym for Visionary Women:

Tuesday, June 26, 2007, 4 to 5 pm ET: “Building Your Brand” Teleclass

Brands aren’t just for big companies, like Pepsi and Dell. Even for the solopreneur, a brand is essential for becoming a client magnet! In this class you’ll learn how being your very best self is the first step in building an authentic brand. I’ll also separate fact from fiction about niching your business, which is one of the most critical elements in creating your signature brand.

Not a member yet? Would you like to take this class? Simply JOIN the Gym, and you will be eligible to take this class and all of the other classes we offer. You can join the Gym anytime. It’s never too late to start! All classes are recorded so you will never miss a thing.

To Learn More, click here!

To JOIN, click here!

Today, June 25, 2007, the worldwide “Choose Trust - Plant Trees” Initiative kicks off!

A fellow visionary woman and business colleague of mine, Coco Fossland of TrustGivers.com, is launching this special campaign.

The goal of “Choose Trust - Plant Trees” is to plant 10,000 trees through TrustGivers.com and Greenworld.org.

Coco shared with me some pretty devastating facts that moved me to be a part of this campaign.

Did you know:

– the average person in the U.S. is responsible for generating 36.8 TONS of greenhouse-causing carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere?

– that it takes 110 trees to absorb and counteract the negative affects?  (That’s a LOT of TREES!)

– 13 million hectares (over 32 millions acres) of the world’s forests are lost to deforestation each year?  The negative affects on the sustainability of our planet are staggering.

But there’s good news! YOU can be part of the solution.

At the click of a button, you can feel good knowing that a tree will be planted on your behalf at http://www.IChooseTrust.com.

I invite YOU to join me in this amazing grass-roots event, where people from every continent on our planet are being encouraged to vow a choice of trust at http://www.IChooseTrust.com.

For every choice made, TrustGivers.com will plant a tree on your behalf! What a simple concept!! All YOU do is pledge a simple choice of trust - “I choose to forgive my mother,” “I choose to help my sister,” “I choose to tell my friend I love her” - and feel good knowing that YOU are part of the solution.

Help us reach our collective goal to plant 10,000 trees!!!

Right now, go to http://www.IChooseTrust.com and make a choice of trust!

And after you make your choice of trust, check out the free gifts and goodies by sponsoring organizations. There are free ebooks, raffles, and other prizes! Enjoy!

This is a great story from the TV show “Britain’s Got Talent.” The audience and judges have little expectation for this cell phone salesman, until he brings them to their feet with an incredible performance.

I’ve watched this video clip 10 times, and each time I’ve gotten shivers and tears in my eyes. It’s that magical moment when someone takes off the chains, sets aside their fears, steps into their greatness, and chooses to be everything they are.

To see the video, click here. 

You can see the weight of the years of living beneath his capacity in his face.  And when he sings, you can see his soul expanding.  Truly amazing.

When you resist who you are, you often don’t realize the energy or the toll it takes on your soul and the quality of your life.  While you may or may not be an opera singer, how can you slip off the chains that hold you back and step into your greatness?

Class #002: Visualizing Your Funnel

Marketing funnels filled with information products and service programs are the keys to making 6 to 7-figures in any business! In addition, funnels make simple and easy-to-follow 1-page business plans, clearly showing you the structure and direction of your business.

In this class, I’ll dive deeper into demonstrating actual funnels for different types of businesses. By the end of this class, you will be able to create a viable funnel for your business!

This class is offered through the Virtual Gym for Visionary Women and is open to all members. Any woman in business or starting a business is welcome to join.

Not a member yet? Would you like to take this class? Simply JOIN the Gym, and you will be eligible to take this class and all of the other classes we offer. You can join the Gym anytime. It’s never too late to start! All classes are recorded so you will never miss a thing.

To Learn More, click here!

To JOIN, click here!

I hope you all had a wonderful Father’s Day and had a chance to visit, call, or reflect on your fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other special men in your life, past and present. Even though Father’s Day has passed, it’s not too late to express your love and gratitude if you haven’t yet.

As women, we tend to think of our mothers as our main role models.  However, our fathers and other male mentors play a very special role in our development. 

Ideally, our fathers (or father figures) allow us to experience healthy, unconditional love from a man, which later prepares us for romantic relationships and marriage.   They confirm and acknowledge our self worth, so we can feel comfortable and powerful, while living and working around men.  Our fathers also give us a sense of safety and protection that is uniquely masculine.

I still remember how strong my Dad felt when I was little. He would pick me up, lift me high, and set me on his shoulders. He would hold my hands and let me walk up his body, doing backwards somersaults in the air. And he would let me do it over and over again until I got dizzy or tired.

As a child, my Dad stayed home with me while my Mom worked (not typical in the 70’s). It was more out of necessity than choice, as my father’s health was failing, but at the time, we didn’t know just how serious it was. We didn’t have a lot of money, but we managed to spend a lot of quality time together. Although he died suddenly when I was five years old, I am fortunate and blessed to have abundant childhood memories that still provide a strong sense of love and connection even after all of these years.

Continue reading ‘Remembering Dad’

With my husband Greg currently conducting a thruhike of the Appalachian Trail (2,200 miles), the saying “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” has new meaning and relevancy to me.

All of a sudden, a thousand miles doesn’t seem that far, and it seems doable! I’ve even started thinking of my goals as Appalachian Trails.  It helps me to remember that if I keep putting one foot in front of the other, eventually I’ll get there.

But many people never even begin their journeys, because usually, the first step is the hardest one to take.

Why is that? It’s just a step, right?

Well, no, it’s more than that.

Continue reading ‘Getting Started: Taking the First Step’