Entrepreneurs have many wonderful qualities; one is that we’re dreamers. Some may prefer the term visionaries. Whatever your preference, this quality is at the heart of nearly everything we do and is the heartbeat in a growing and changing company.

It’s probable that you see your company growing beyond where it is today, financially at least. I wonder if you see your life outside of work growing and changing as well? It’s easy to get lost in the day-to-day work as well as the company dream, but do you dream for YOU? I know it’s difficult to separate from the company and that our work is a part of our dream, but how do they support one another and where do we separate?

During a conversation with a friend this weekend, I realized that my dream is missing some important key elements. I know that my life purpose includes helping others achieve their dreams; it’s what makes me happy and it brings joy to my heart. Goals and targets for my company are in place and there are some things I’d like to do outside of work, but what about 5-10 years from now? Where do I want to be personally? Sure, I have a vision of the future, but suddenly I see that there are some pieces missing.

So, I’ve decided to devote the month of January to identifying those missing pieces. After all, a part of what makes us tick is the dream, right?

I’ve put together this list questions as a partial guideline for getting in touch with the bigger picture of my personal life. For the purpose of this blog, I’ve added some more global questions. I hope you find them helpful. Please contribute any helpful thoughts and insights as you explore your big dreams.

• At what age do I wish to retire?
• What does retirement mean to me?
• Will I engage in any revenue-generating activity after retirement?
• Is there anything I can do now to ensure a passive revenue stream for my retirement?
• Do I want to be in the same house in 3, 5, 10 years from now (or beyond?)
• If I move, do I know where I’d like to be and what my surroundings will look like? What’s most important to me about my physical surroundings?
• What kind of people would I like to meet this next year?
• Am I surrounded by people who support me? Where else in my life would I like additional support and what could I do to meet the right person/people?
• Am I happy with my health and weight? If not, what small and manageable steps could I take to change that?
• Am I happy with the way I spend my “free” time? If I don’t have enough free time, am I avoiding something? How can I achieve greater balance in my life in the New Year?
• Are there any new hobbies or activities I’d like to explore in the New Year?
• Do I plan on changing my career focus someday? If I don’t want to do this “forever” when is the right time to begin laying the groundwork for change? Can I identify those steps and a time frame for them?
• If money were no object and I had all the support I need, where would I like to be in ______ years from now? What steps can I take to begin visualizing and embracing that dream? What can I do to increase my belief that I will bring that dream to fruition?
• Currently, I’m single: Do I want to change that? If so, what qualities would I look for in a mate? What could I begin to do now to increase the odds of meeting that person? Hummmmm.
• If you’re married or in a committed relationship, is there anything you’d like to change or improve in the relationship?
• As my revenue grows, I could possibly find more free time on my hands.  How would I like to spend that time?
• What feeds me the most? Am I satisfying that hunger? If not, why not? What steps can I take to change that or increase my level of satisfaction?
• At the end of a typical day, do I feel satisfied with what I’ve done/achieved? If not, what can I do differently each day?
• What charities, causes, organizations, might I feel passionate about and how would I like to contribute?
• Helping others is important to me. How can I continue to do that if and when I am no longer coaching?
• I would like to travel more. When and where will I go?
• If you have small children, do you have enough time of your own? If not, how can you change that?
• What are my material goals? Is it time for a new mattress, computer, yacht?
• Is my relationship with my kids where I would like it to be? If not, what can I do to change it?
• How far have I gone on my spiritual path? How would I like to change/enhance my spirituality or religious commitment?
• If I had to describe my frame of mind, as it is on most days, what word would I use? Is that who I want to be? If not, what steps can I take to shift my frame of mind to a more desirable state?

From your business….

You gave birth to me one day, long ago. I was the sparkle in your eye, an idea growing inside of you, impatient for the day when I would become a reality.

I know that I’m not an easy child. I know that I’m demanding and always hungry for your attention. Thank you for staying up with me into the wee hours of the night and carrying me with you everywhere you go. I’m your most demanding child, yet you nurture and care for me like no one else ever could. Thank you for feeding me with your creativity, passion, and endless devotion.

I wish to give you something in return. I wish to give you the gift of freedom; I wish to give you something for which you will be forever proud; I wish to give you security and financial independence. Mostly, I wish to give you the means to help others as you do so well – and the satisfaction of knowing that this world is a better place because of you – because of us.

Perhaps I’m still too small to give you all of that right now, but we’ll grow together. Please know that gratitude comes in many forms and while I may not give back to you in the ways you expect, there is a gift in every moment that we spend together. Like the child you hold close to your heart I will bring you joy, even in the most trying of times. Thank you for being you.

For some, giving thanks is a pure and simple prayer at the dinner table; and it’s important to stop and count our blessings on this special day. This year, take notice of how you feel as you concentrate on giving thanks for your good health, your family and friends, and all of the other important aspects of your life. Do you feel lighter? Is your spirit elevated? Are you smiling a little more than usual?

Gratitude does, indeed, raise our energy level. It’s the most powerful energy that the body can produce because it has the ability to create joy. If you live in gratitude 365 days a year, your life will change drastically. I don’t mean in just the way you feel, but also in what is happening around you. You will literally find yourself manifesting your dreams.

Why? Because we are made of energy, and so is everything around us. We are like magnets that are programmed to attract like-kind energy. So if you feel bad most of the time, the things that come into your life will match the way you feel. If you feel good, then the things that happen in your life will feel good to you. This is a simple version of what we call The Law of Attraction, but beginning with the basics will get you strong results.

So, if you’ve attracted things that don’t feel so good, or you want your life to get even better, try feeling gratitude – and the joy that comes with it – many times throughout your day. Begin with 20 seconds, 3 times a day. Close your eyes, focus on your heart, and think about something that brings joy to your heart. Hold that elevated emotion for a mere 20 seconds and notice how it affects you. Ahhhh, feels good doesn’t it?

Go ahead, take this challenge, and let me know how it feels after 30 days. The changes will probably be subtle at first; you may feel less stress or a bit more energy. But over time, I think you’ll be surprised at the gift that gratitude itself will bring into your life.

Singin’ the Work at Home Blues? Jazz It Up With Feedback from These Successful WAH Stars…

All of us who work from home know that it can have its pitfalls. That doesn’t mean we’re not grateful, or that we’re ready to throw in the towel, but this coach will be the first to say that life at home 24/7 doesn’t always rock. There are days that I find myself singin’ the work at home – WAHhhh – blues!

Last week we got great feedback from 3 of my successful entrepreneurs. Here are 3 more – I hope you’ll add your feedback and ideas as well!

______________________________________________________________

Barbara Rozgonyi
Founder, CoryWest Media, LLC
Wired PR Works

Q -  What is the greatest recurring work-at-home challenge you have encountered?

Barbara’s Answer: Recruiting and organizing a virtual team to seamlessly deliver integrated marketing communications and pr projects.

Q -  What solutions have been most effective in combating the challenge?

Barbara’s Answer: Developing a systematic approach for every client and their projects helps keep the team on the same track. Using a Hollywood casting approach allows us to match the right people to the right roles as writers, designers or consultants for each project. Expanding your team beyond you is key if you want to grow and take on bigger projects.

Q -  What is the greatest work-at-home challenge you encountered during your first 6-months in business in your home office?

Barbara’s Answer: Getting enough clients to start my business from the ground up.

Q - What solutions were most effective in combating the challenge?

Barbara’s Answer: After choosing a name, CoryWest Marketing Communications [after my mother and grandmother] to sound like a real company, I decided to play off of my corporate sales training experience and focus on the healthcare industry. So, I picked up the phone and started making calls to introduce my company to hospitals, home health care agencies and insurance companies. On each call, I offered to send them my quarterly newsletter with updates about the latest in health care communications. It worked! My first cold call turned out to be one of my best clients. Our relationship lasted for six years.

______________________________________________________________

Deb Villarese
President, Bella Well Lifestyles
follow Deb on Twitter @debvillarese

Q -  What is the greatest recurring work-at-home challenge you have encountered?

Deb’s Answer: Needing order in my life and surroundings. Years ago, I wanted everything perfect. ( beds made, dishes done etc) Then I came to the strong realization that what I was really doing was procrastinating and avoiding what I needed to do, which was to pick up the phone or write the article, or prepare the speech……………..

Q -  What solutions have been most effective in combating the challenge?

Deb’s Answer: I had to decide that I had a real job and set a time that I had to show up at the office. Whether the things around the house were done or not. IF there had to be a change in time, then it had to be made up. Just like if a boss required 8 hours a day. I had a 12 hour time span to fit the hours into MY schedule.

Q -  What is the greatest work-at-home challenge you encountered during your first 6-months in business in your home office?

Deb’s Answer: The purpose of working at home is to have more control over my life. Once I got the hang of working at home, I found that my business was running me, rather than me running my business. It all came down to total time management.

Q - What solutions were most effective in combating the challenge?

Deb’s Answer: I have set hours I work. I usually take Friday afternoon’s off. I work 2-3 nights, but I don’t have those carved in stone. They are flexible. I call those evening hours the golden hours because that is the time which I have the most success finding people available to participate in web cast, conference calls and the like. IN summary – Time management, and discipline to myself and my business. BALANCE it ALL.

______________________________________________________________

VALERIE G JONES
Pre-Paid Legal

Q -  What is the greatest recurring work-at-home challenge you have encountered?

Valerie’s Answer: Balancing my time between appointments and phone call/follow-up time to get appointments. I can get so busy on appointments, then I have a slump because I haven’t set aside time to make new appointments.

Q -  What solutions have been most effective in combating the challenge?

Valerie’s Answer: Set blocks of time that are only available to do follow-up phone calls and treat that phone time as appointments and make that time unavailable for appointments.

Q -  What is the greatest work-at-home challenge you encountered during your first 6-months in business in your home office?

Valerie’s Answer: It was easy to put off work tasks or do personal tasks during work time.

Q - What solutions were most effective in combating the challenge?

Valerie’s Answer: Treat my business like a job and set goals for the day, the week and the month. Prioritize the items and do the “A” items (urgent and important) before “B” items (important but not urgent) and “C” items.

Many of us who work from home know that it can have its pitfalls. That doesn’t mean we’re not grateful, or that we’re ready to throw in the towel, but this coach will be the first to say that life at home 24/7 doesn’t always rock. There are days that I find myself singin’ the work at home “WAHhhh ” blues!

So – I reached out to a group of successful WAH business owners with 4 quick questions. I hope you enjoy – and benefit from – a few words from the wise!

_______________________________________________________________

Patti Dobrowolski
Chief, Strategy & Creative Design
Alchemy: The Art of Transforming Business
Follow Patti on twitter @pdobrowolski

Q - What is the greatest recurring work-at-home challenge you have encountered?

Patti’s Answer: Getting caught up in email and surfing on line when I need to be focusing on creating or delivering client work or developing new business

Q -  What solutions have been most effective in combating the challenge?

Patti’s Answer: I went to this 3 tiered system:
Focus Day: During this day, email gets checked 2 x a day and not first thing! You are working directly with clients.
Buffer Day: On this day you are preparing for your delivery days, you can also do business development, and return key emails
Rest Day:

Q -  What is the greatest work-at-home challenge you encountered during your first 6-months in business in your home office?

Patti’s Answer: What is the greatest work-at-home challenge you encountered during your first 6-months in business in your home office?
Making sure that I didn’t cut the grass and clean the house instead of focus in my office.

Q - What solutions were most effective in combating the challenge?

Patti’s Answer: Set and keep a schedule. I’m a list person, so I make a list for the day and check things off as I complete them. I understand now that I have a short attention span for deep projects to I do the HARD stuff first and the secondary stuff last. Since I am a competitive cyclist, I reward myself with the completion of my task list by going for a training ride!

_______________________________________________________________

Ilene Segal
Founder | Creative Director
baby idesign
www.babyidesign.com

ILene’s Answer: Isolation. It was a big adjustment going from an office filled with people, some of whom were my closest friends, to being in a small NYC apartment alone, all day long. Six years later and its still a challenge.

Q -  What solutions have been most effective in combating the challenge?

ILene’s Answer: The good news is that when you’re alone all day, your anxious to get out at night. I love to go for a run after work, go to the gym and/or socialize with friends in an effort to have human contact. Unlike most people who are tired after work and just want to go home, I’ve actually taken this opportunity to get in shape and be more social.

Q - What is the greatest work-at-home challenge you encountered during your first 6-months in business in your home office?

ILene’s Answer: While it may sound silly, maintaining my sense of style. I went from a glammy job where I wore great clothes and accessories every day, to being alone in the apt, where it’s easy to fall into the pitfalls of no make up and pajamas daily.

Q - What solutions were most effective in combating the challenge?

ILene’s Answer:I remember when I first started my business, every person would say to me “oh you’re so lucky, you can work in your pajamas all day.” I hated that. I believe in the look good, feel good theory. And I do not believe in wearing sweatpants just because I work from home. I have coined my new style as “comfortable chic!” I’ve even implemented dress up day where every Wednesday my assistant and I dress up in either a skirt or dress. Even if I’m in the apartment all day, I feel good and more productive in a dress. You learn to be creative for inspiration when you’re alone a lot of the day.

_______________________________________________________________

Brad Shorr
Founder of the award-winning blog, Word Sell, Inc

Q - What is the greatest recurring work-at-home challenge you have encountered?

Brad’s Answer: Working in a vacuum. Like Gregory House on the TV program “House”, I need to bounce ideas around with people to be at my creative best.

Q -  What solutions have been most effective in combating the challenge?

Brad’s Answer: I look everywhere for opportunities to collaborate, and continue cultivating relationships with people I’ve worked with in the past.

Q - What is the greatest work-at-home challenge you encountered during your first 6-months in business in your home office?

Brad’s Answer: Deciding whether to go whole hog in one direction or try a variety of business models all at the same time. I’d go back and forth between one approach and the other, which pretty much guaranteed nothing would work.

Q - What solutions were most effective in combating the challenge?

Brad’s Answer: First, I gave myself permission to stumble. Then, I sought out help and input from people I knew, trusted, and had been successful in ways that I wanted to excel. Finally, I learned to be patient. Business plans need time to ripen.

_______________________________________________________________

When I take on a new client, I ask them to fill out a questionnaire before we begin working together. One of the questions is: “Success means different things to different people; what does success mean to you?”

It seems like a pretty basic question at first glance, but when you really think about it, it’s fairly loaded. Your answer might sum up why you chose the business you did, how you feel about your family, what global issues are important to you, how important your physical and mental health is, what money means to you, and more. I’ve learned that very few successful business owners will describe success simply as running a profitable business. In fact, that is often one of the last things mentioned. The business is typically a means to the end; a way to accommodate values that represent whole life balance.

Another interesting and telling point is that many of the people who answer this question are thinking about it for the first time. Now I ask you, how can you possibly achieve success if you don’t know what success means to you? If you don’t even know what success is? It’s like trying to achieve goals that you’ve never set! Achieving clarity around your definition of success is a great start to growing a successful business and living a balanced life.

As an entrepreneur, success is probably one of your top values; one of the things that is most important to you in the world. So give this question some serious consideration. Ask yourself, “What is important about success to me? How do I define success?” Remember, this is YOUR definition, not that of society as a whole. This is all about YOU – Yay!

Now, if you respond by saying that you must have a profitable business and be highly regarded in your field, that’s great. But I challenge you to look at the bigger picture. If you achieve those things, but don’t have any time to spend with your friends and family, will you feel successful? How about philanthropic activities? Will you feel successful if you can’t devote time and money to causes that are important to you? Or – I don’t know – say… if your company adds to the effects of global warming? What if you feel and act like a total Scrooge to keep your company profitable and you don’t treat others in a way that’s in harmony with your ideal values – in the way you like to be treated? Will you feel successful if you make a profit, but have to work 12-hours a day to do it? Some people would say yes, some would not. And that’s ok. Remember, this is YOUR definition of success.

Well, you get the idea. Knowing what success means to you today will help you to build your ideal company tomorrow. Your company is an extension of you; identify and define your most important values and apply them to the way you run your company and live your life – inside and outside of work. This is a critical layer in the foundation of a sound business and a happy lifestyle. So, hello, my name is Marla and I’d like to ask you a question: What does success mean to you?

I have to mention that there was a downside; the Sahara Hotel was the most god-forsaken place I’ve ever stayed. But the upside is that I’m now willing to try camping. I figure if I can survive 4 nights at the Sahara, I can deal with doing dishes in river water and peeing in the woods. See, I even learned that I possess greater survival skills than I would have thought!

But I brought home more than that. I have to admit that, prior to this conference, I didn’t fully understand the power behind blogging and other social media outlets. I was a twit about Twitter, I didn’t understand the level of relationship building that these resources offer, and I had a limited scope of understanding about on-line marketing. I had the honor of doing several interviews with people who get it….and teach it. And each time I walked away with a 100-watt light bulb glowing above my head…and it feels great. I could go on and on about the things I learned and the people I met, but today let’s talk about how to keep the light bulb bright by creating and following through on the action plan.

I’ve come home with tons of insight, information, and a goals list the length of my arm. Now, how do I assimilate, process and take action? Isn’t that what we all face when we complete a workshop, seminar, or conference? Urrgghh! It’s so overwhelming! Here’s the process I use when I learn a lot of new stuff and want to put it into action. It takes away the feeling of being overwhelmed and helps me feel good about what I’ve learned. If you have something to add to the list, please do!

• Create a bulleted list of the most significant takeaways and AhHa moments.
• Divide the business into chunks; products, services, public speaking, and future products, services and growth plans.
• Now list your tools; blogs, marketing resources, on-line marketing/websites, social media outlets, email lists, etc
• Cross-reference your conference takeaways with each individual piece of your business. What will you add, change, and phase out? For instance, I’ve learned more about the value of interviews so I’m adding one interview per month to my SparkPlugging blog. I came to grips with the value of Twitter, so I’m building short snippets of time into my day to participate and TwitterFeed my blog posts. And I learned more about the power behind FaceBook, so I’m going to create a presence there and add that to my list of resources/tools. Obviously, since this was a blogging conference, most of these fall into the on-line marketing section of my business. But I also have ideas for the products and services pieces of my business and I’ve built those ideas and the research behind them into my plan.
• Next make a goals list with targeted dates for completion and each step you will take. Don’t forget to build in time for your learning curve. It’s important not to set yourself up for failure.
• Do one thing at a time! This is important. When I came home last week I felt anxious and frustrated. I felt like I was behind the trend and would never catch up. How was I going to make these enhancements to my business overnight? The answer is obvious; I can’t. This process helped me create balance and resume my more natural state of calm, confidence, and orderly thinking. That’s the state I need to be in to create change.

This may sound like a lot of work, but frankly, it took me about two hours to achieve. When you separate and cross-reference, it’s easier and less overwhelming. Now I have a list of steps that I refer to each day and I don’t have to decide or think about what to do. That’s half the battle!

What’s the next educational experience that you plan to embark on? Hopefully, this action plan will help to make your investment of time and money create a strong impact on your business. And remember – have fun doing it!

Overwhelmed by Opportunity asks: I’ve come to a bit of a roadblock in my business. There are so many opportunities and ways to spend my time — PR, marketing, networking, partnership, events — these are all great, but I am feeling completely overwhelmed with these. How do I know what to take on and what to pass on? I don’t want to regret a missed opportunity, but I also don’t want to spread myself too thin and get burn t out . Any advice?

Dear Overwhelmed,

I hear you. I love opportunity, but I also know what it means to have more options than I know what to do with. It’s true that too much opportunity can be a detriment to success if you get bogged down in it and spread yourself too thin.

It sounds like you need to refine your focus and get really clear about what it is that you want to accomplish. Here are a few steps to get you started:

Revisit your business plan: What…you don’t have a business plan? Hmmm…that could be the root of your problems. Look a business plan doesn’t have to be some 30-page monstrosity. It can be a simple 1-pager that outlines your numbers and your goals for the next year. Having a clear plan will help you prioritize. And if you do have a business plan, now is a great time to revisit it. What have you already accomplished? What is still on your list? It’s likely that things have changed since the last time you looked, so set aside a few hours and do some strategizing.

Research what is unclear: One of the biggest reasons why entrepreneurs don’t make decisions or move forward is because they just don’t know what to do. If there is something that you find you’re avoiding, it may be time to pull that monster out from under the bed. And the best way to do that is research, reading and talking. Especially talking. Let’s say you’re considering a partnership but you don’t know how to structure it. To figure out what that entails, ask several respected entrepreneurs their thoughts or post the question online. There is power in tapping your community. The SparkplugU classes are a great way to brainstorm with other entrepreneurs who are thinking about the same things.

If you’re baffled by marketing, our own Marketing Eggspert, Susan Payton here at Sparkplugging has some quick and very focused answers in her recent post 5 Ways to Immediately Improve Your Marketing.

Focus on the immediate goals: Now that you have a plan for the next year, it’s important to start breaking that plan into manageable pieces. Write out what your immediate goals are for the next six months. It’s good to have the big picture in mind, but it does take steps to get there. Writing down what HAS to happen in the next 6 months will help you from getting distracted by all the pretty shiny things along the way.

Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize: Now that you have planned and strategized, it’s time to prioritize. What are the most important tasks, and what are the steps you need to do to get there? Add some dates to these and check off your accomplishments as you go.

If after you’ve focused, strategized and prioritized you still feel overwhelmed, you may want to weed some things off of your list. This is about getting things done and keeping your sanity in tact.

Follow up: Be sure to take time out once a week to see what needs to be done, but more importantly what you’ve accomplished. Allow yourself the option to make changes as you go – it’s inevitable and makes it all so much more exciting.

Try as we may, we can’t do everything. We can do a lot though, and a good way to get there is to plan as best we can and to give ourselves kudos for all of our accomplishments!

To finding your focus!

Starla

Lonely Entrepreneur asks: After quitting my corporate job to focus on my own business, I’m feeling in between worlds. I just can’t seem relate to the 9-5 mentality anymore. There are so many cool things going on in my life right now, but it feels like the cubicle dwellers can’t understand my life or what I’m dealing with. Does there have to be a rift between us?

Dear Temporarily Lonely,

First off, huge props for making the leap – it is one of the scariest things that you can do. It takes some serious cajones to make the switch from cubicle dweller to fearless entrepreneur. What you just did counts as a major life-changing decision. It’s exciting and fulfilling, but I’m not going to lie to you, it can also feel lonely.

It would be nice if everyone understood the magnitude of what you just did, let alone supported it, but that’s asking a lot. Some people will be happy for you. Some will be shocked. Some will be threatened and some won’t know how to react. You will grow new relationships and you will have to let go of others. Letting go of people in your life can be difficult, but holding on to relationships that aren’t working can hold you back, bring you down and be even more difficult than letting go.

Now, about those people in your life who aren’t as supportive as they used to be… There are several reasons this is happening to you (as well as many other entrepreneurs who have made a switch like yourself).

Fear: They might truly be afraid for you as they need security in their lives and they try to impose that on you. They might not know how to relate to you because you are going through some significant changes in your life. And as you become truer to your calling, you may find the rift growing.

Jealousy: Yes, there are people (many people) who are jealous of what you are doing. The jealousy is related to fear as they might be too afraid to take a risk like you have. The fact that you have taken a risk is causing others to look at their own lives and dreams – they might want to pick your brain on how you did it, or they might belittle you because of their own insecurities. Hey, you know you’re fabulous when you start to inspire jealousy!

Fear and jealousy can manifest in ways that try to undermine what you are doing or even make you feel bad. How much time should you spend explaining and defending what you are doing in your life? That’s really up to you, but in order to keep moving forward in a focused and clear direction, I would suggest that you not spend much time at all on this. There are people out there who will support and respect what you are doing, you might need to let go of some relationships that aren’t working to make room for ones that will.

How to manage:

Get out there and network. Meet others who are doing what you’re doing or who have made similar changes in their lives. There are plenty of meetups, entrepreneurial organizations and other groups out there – find them.

Nourish your supportive and healthy relationships.

Stay positive and redistribute some of the energy you were wasting back into you and your business.

There are so many amazing and inspiring people out there. It’s just up to you to get out there and meet them.

To becoming more fearlessly yourself!

Starla

What is one of the most important things in the world to most entrepreneurs? Think about it: why do you want to be – or why are you – an entrepreneur or solopreneur? Is it for the money? That factor’s in of course, but if you’re like so many small business owners, money is an elusive commodity (at least for a while.) Okay, if you haven’t guessed it – it’s freedom. The vast majority of small business owners will tell you that freedom is one of the most important things in the world to them – if not THE most important. We give up the drudgery of the 8-5 ball and chain in search of glorious freedom. But wait. 8-5? That’s way less then you’re probably working in your own business! What happened? Where’s the freedom in that!?

If this sounds familiar to you, you’re not alone. Entrepreneurs are some of the hardest-working people out there. So if freedom is such an important part of our happiness, how and why do we fall into the trap of working 60+ hours a week? The truly curious part is that, in spite of these long hours, many business owners still feel a greater sense of freedom than they would if they worked for someone else. That’s because they are choosing this way of life and they can typically arrange those hours in whatever way they like. They have the freedom to do what they want, when they want – to some degree anyway. They have the freedom to make their own choices and determine the future of their company. Ahhhh, sweet freedom.

But even so, is it enough? Maybe for the first couple of years it is, but beyond that the demanding schedule a business owner takes on will take its toll eventually. And to make matters worse, they do it for little or no monetary compensation. They’ve fallen into the Freedom Trap: thinking that working for themselves will allow life without limitations, yet they feel limited in time, money, and happiness.

So what is this freedom seeking, creative, and possibly disillusioned person to do? It begins with proper and realistic planning and continues with the same. Plan, plan, and plan some more. Many of the business owners I speak with jumped into their business knowing how to deliver a product or service, but knowing little to nothing about running a business. You CAN build the perfect business and enjoy your freedom too. Just plan carefully and watch out for these common traps:

Trap #1. It’s All About Me!

Oops. You’re a great consultant, designer, or music teacher. But how much money can you make if your skill is the only thing you have to sell? You want to build a business where the sky is the limit, but in this scenario YOU are the limit. If you’re truly seeking freedom and profits, build your company so that you sell something other than your own talent. There are many resources out there on building multiple streams of revenue and taking your business to the next level. For coaches, consultants and VA’s, I recommend Multiple Steams of Coaching Income by Andrea J. Lee. Consider how you can bring passive revenue streams into your business: Write and sell e-books or other products, audio recordings sell very well – the possibilities are endless. If you’re in Trap #1, it’s a great time to hire a coach; the investment will come back to you quickly. Bring on contract employees who can provide the service and spend your time growing the business. If you haven’t read Michael Gerber’s E-Myth Revisited, now’s the time.

Trap #2. I Can Do It All!

If you are constantly running to the post office, doing the bookkeeping, answering the phone, and trouble-shooting problems, how are you going to make money? But I can’t afford an employee, you might say. You can’t afford NOT to hire at least a part time contractor. What’s your time worth? $100, $150 per hour? (Don’t undervalue your worth!) Would you pay someone $100 per hour to run errands? No? Well, if you’re running these errands and performing basic administrative tasks, that’s exactly what you’re doing. Here’s a formula to consider: Log your tasks for a week and isolate the things that you should NOT be doing yourself. How many hours does that add up to? 20-25? Now, if you had 25 hours more each week to do nothing but market your business, how long would it take you to make an extra $1200 per month? 2 or 3 months? Then you need about $3600 in savings to hire a part time assistant at $10 per hour. Heck, even if you started with 10 hours a week it would make a difference. How can you begin to save a little bit of money to bring on a part time person? This is another investment that will come back to you quickly. I’ve taken many clients down this path, and it’s never failed. The most important thing you have to watch is your commitment to market your company – make sure that’s how you spend these additional hours.

Trap #3. What? Me Plan?

Okay. So you don’t think a business plan is important. Well, if you’re not borrowing money perhaps you could do without one for the time being. I personally believe they’re very important because it gives you the framework and guidelines to create success. Also, because it forces you to think through your entire plan in a way that you can’t do by processing it verbally or internally. But, forget about a whole business plan for now if that’s what you want to do. However, a marketing plan and financial projections are critical. After you hire that part time contractor and have 100 hours a month to market your business, what are you going to do? Do you know how? Have you done research on what’s successful for other companies like yours? Do you know how to reach your customer in a multitude of ways? Do you know how much it’s going to cost? A simple marketing plan with measurable goals and a timeline is a must-have power tool that not only builds success but also helps you to explore the viability of your business.

Likewise, financial projections are an important guideline to help you stay on target and plan the future of your company. Without projections too many entrepreneurs fall into the trap of operating at a deficit and thinking that it will change – but they don’t do anything to change it. They simply close their eyes to the consistent loss (even deny it) and pray that the tides will turn. If you stay on top of your projections then you see the need for change in black and white and you’re more likely to take action. It’s like taking your sick child’s temperature to measure if he’s getting better or needs the attention of a doctor. It also brings awareness to the need for a budget and financial planning, an area that too many business owners avoid. For instance, if your projections tell you that you will operate in the red for 18 months, then you need enough money to support your operating costs PLUS the equivalent of the income you’re currently accustomed to (at the very least) in savings before you launch your business. When you’re putting together your projections, make sure you fully consider the funding you’ll need to build the business and the tools that you’ll require (website, equipment upgrades, etc.) Check out your local S.C.O.R.E. offices if you think you need help with projections – it’s free! If you’re already in business and haven’t done this yet, it’s time. Better to know where you’re at so you can make smart choices than to keep working in the dark.

Trap #4. I’m No Good at Math!

Your time is valuable and operating costs can run much higher than you might guess. I once coached an artist who grossed about $200,000 a year. Nice, huh? He couldn’t figure out why he was in the red. He kept no financials. Guess what? Once we gathered the records and did a little math, we figured out that he was paying for the privilege of traveling to trade shows at an exhausting pace. Technically, his work was a hobby  - he didn’t like finding that out. His operating costs and cost of goods were higher than his gross revenues  - who would have thought? The good news is that we were able to identify ways to cut this artist’s costs dramatically, get him off the road (for the most part,) and put him back in the design studio where he is most happy. Today, he’s making a nice profit, enjoying his freedom, and letting go of the awful financial stress.
Stay on top of your numbers. There are amazing secrets in those numbers  - use them to your advantage and avoid this heart-wrenching awakening in months or years to come. Again, on-line resources or your local S.C.O.R.E. office can help. If you can afford a part time bookkeeper’s help  - go for it!

Trap #5. I Don’t Have Time for Life Balance!

Who has the time to take a walk in the woods or have a quiet dinner with their spouse? If you’re running your own business, you probably put off these luxuries believing that you’ll enjoy them again someday. Next thing you know, you are fast approaching burn out and your spouse has forgotten who you are (or who you used to be.) PLEASE  - let go of the business long enough to enjoy life away from the office. Here’s the thing: if you’re consistently working 12 hours in one day, you are most likely achieving about 7 hours worth of work. The human brain is capable of intently focusing on tasks for about 2 hours. After 2 hours you begin to loose your ability to stay focused and the brain becomes fatigued. It needs a break! As you push past 2 hours the ability to process and produce becomes sluggish and you accomplish less. But if you refresh yourself by letting go of the focus and changing course (even for 15 minutes) you will improve your focus and get more done. Simply put: take breaks! The same goes for pushing beyond 8 hours in solid chunks of time. You loose focus and accomplish less. Eventually, you’ll find yourself experiencing high levels of frustration and feeling isolated. Human beings need socialization and fun. Make a commitment to yourself. Reach out for the freedom that’s so important to you. You’ll become a more productive entrepreneur and success will be that much closer.

Again, to avoid these traps, support and accountability are critical. If you can’t yet afford a coach, find a peer who is in a similar boat and support one another in these areas. Create weekly goals and hold one another accountable to them in a compassionate way. Support and encourage one another and discuss creative ways to stay out of the Freedom Trap. Remember, without you this business wouldn’t exist; take care of the most valuable commodity  - YOU!

Remember, in these times, a successful businessperson must use whole mind thinking. We need to create processes, systems, and solutions in addition to being creative and utilizing our out-of-the-box thinking skills. Hopefully, these 10 steps to planning your plan will help you do just that. Use these steps to create focus so that you can get these fabulous ideas out of your mind and cashing in at the bank.

1) Tell it to three people, not a village: When you create a new concept, plan, or goal for your business discuss it with 3 people. That’s it – 3 people. Perhaps your coach, a close friend, and a peer. You will drive yourself crazy if you put your idea in front of too many people; everyone will have a different opinion and enough feedback to fill a sizeable hard drive. Some will love your idea; others will think you’re a lunatic to believe it will work, and everyone will have a way to “improve” upon it. Remember, this business is about your clients/customers and only you know what makes them happy. It’s also about your passion and values; and only you can possibly connect to those. Let your ideas be representative of your passion and your clients’ needs, not the opinions of a multitude of friends, family members, and peers. You’ll soon discover that the true answers are within you, so why create stress and waste time when you already have the answers? Brainstorming with your Mastermind Group or your coach is critical at times, but no need to ask the opinion of every person you know.

2) Compare yourself only to YOU: At times it’s tempting to take a look at the competition, and that’s good and necessary. But it stops being useful when we begin to beat ourselves up for not achieving everything that the competition has achieved. When I began coaching, I would frequently go to other coach’s websites and make myself feel wholly inadequate because I wasn’t doing everything that every other coach on the face of the earth was doing. Yikes! How is that possible? Thankfully, I’ve learned to rein myself in and realize that we each have a unique offering and there is room enough in this Universe for thousands of successful coaches. There is room in this Universe for millions of successful people and your unique offerings will make you one of them. When you compare, compare your achievements to your own goals and how far you’ve come – not to the goals of others.

3) Examine it: Write down all of the reasons that you want to achieve this goal and all of its benefits. Are you doing this for the right reasons? Do you feel that it is in integrity with your values and your business model? If not, this is the time to revise the goal until it feels right, don’t wait until you’re knee deep in problems. Also, why limit yourself to logic in this phase? Use that outstanding intuition as well.

4) Analyze it: Don’t over analyze, but be diligent in examining the logic and the feasibility of your idea, and ask yourself, “How will I know when I’ve successfully achieved this goal?” and “How is it measurable?” Ask, “At what point is this goal complete and how will I know that I’ve succeeded?” Most importantly; “Is this idea a good fit in my long term vision?”

5) Plan for it: Identify your end-goal and write it at the top of a piece of paper (or a Word doc). Then create the steps you will take to achieve that goal. Be very specific so that each step has one or more action steps. So, whether it’s information gathering, writing content, individual marketing steps, or creating infrastructure, each category may have a number of action steps. In other words, every large step must be broken down into bite-sized pieces so you know exactly what to do next when the time comes.

6) Challenge it: Identify any possible blocks or obstacles in your plan or goal. What might they be and how will you address them if they arise? Now, don’t go getting all pessimistic on me here. Simply take a look at technical challenges, marketing challenges, etc. and the resources that you possess to address any questions as they arise. Is your marketing plan for a new product or service strong enough? Do you need new software or hardware to implement your idea? Who do you know who could help you in these areas – or others? These challenges, if you encounter them, are simply detours that you WILL maneuver successfully if you plan for them.

7) Make it friendly: Referring to step #5, where you’ve identified your bite-sized action steps, create a user-friendly document for each series of steps. For instance, if your next step is adding a shopping cart to your site, have a “shopping cart” document that details each step along the way. Now give yourself a timeline to complete all of these steps. I leave this document open on my desktop, and between my client sessions I refer to it to see what the next action step is – and I DO IT. No thinking about how I can change it, make it better, or even how I can procrastinate on it. I am now on auto-pilot because all I have to do is read and ACT. Wow, what a difference it makes when you don’t have to decide what to do next….ahhhh.

8 ) Create the habit: Now the trick is to remember to look at your working document. Until it becomes habit, put a reminder in your Outlook calendar or sticky notes throughout your home. Referring to your task list needs to become a default setting for you so that you don’t get off track with other projects and grand ideas that can wait until another time. Stick to this project; put other ideas in a separate “idea” document so that your mind is free and willing to stick to this one goal until it’s complete.

9) Get the psychological edge: Sometimes, larger goals lead us to feel like we’re on a treadmill; working hard and going nowhere. I like to use the “double strike through” feature in Word to indicate that I’ve achieved my steps…I don’t delete them as I go. This way, when I refer to my action plan document I can see how far I’ve come. Eventually, I accept that I’m making progress and I delete the completed tasks – that feels good too!

10) Celebrate along the way: The big picture is just that – BIG. Get off the treadmill every now and then and celebrate all that you’ve achieved. Describe it out loud to one of your 3 people; when you do this it really sinks in and you will feel good about yourself and your goals. It’s important to feel like you’re achieving and not sinking in the quicksand of it all. This will keep your motivation strong and your vision secure.

Summing this up; it’s critical that you write down your goals, talk them through with someone who will offer solid feedback and perhaps some accountability, and create the daily habit (and time) to achieve something on your goals list. I keep my Fridays as an “admin and marketing” day and focus on my goals all day long – every, single week – no exceptions. If you can’t take an entire day then schedule in 2-hour blocks of time at least 3 times a week. You have the time. Think about how much time is either spent doing non-entrepreneurial tasks or mentally processing and re-hashing the same information. That’s right; if you outsource and get focused you will have the time.

OK. Go create the plan, follow the 10-steps and let me know what you’ve achieved in 3-month’s time! Most importantly, have fun with it. You’re an entrepreneur because you have spirit, creativity, and passion – enjoy them!

This post contains uses of the word ‘recession’ that may cause panic attacks in small business owners. Readers are advised to continue reading as the following post may contain tips for growing your business even in challenging economic times.

Christine asks: “I recently left my day job to pursue my own jewelry business full-time and the economy isn’t in the best shape at the moment — do you have any suggestions or tips for those of us starting out in challenging economic times?”

First off, Christine, your jewelry is gorgeous, classic and feminine – love it. Big kudos for being FEARLESS enough to follow your dream. Starting a business is a lot like having a baby – it’s never going to feel like the right time and you’re never going to feel 100% ready. It is crazy scary, no matter what the market conditions are like. So the advice I have for you isn’t just practical, it’s emotional too. Here goes…

1. Be a sales maven. Everyone is worried about cash flow right now. That doesn’t mean that no one is going to buy your jewelry, but it does mean that there is more competition for your customers’ dollars. That means it’s time to start working on your sales skills. If you truly believe in the quality of what you do, now is the time to start promoting yourself and your business. Here’s the good news. If you can master it now, think about how good you’ll be when the economy loosens up! In the meantime, here are 3 books that will help you hone your skills:
   • How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie is a classic for a reason.
   • Secrets of Great Rainmakers by Jeffrey Fox is quick, easy and will remind you never to give up!
   • The Sales Bible: The Ultimate Sales Resource by Jeffrey Gitomer. The title says it all.
2. Shore up liquidity. Here’s the bad news. The mortgage meltdown has made banks less willing to extend credit, even to the most creditworthy borrowers. Now here’s how it affect you. Plan ahead. Don’t wait until you NEED the money to apply for credit. Make sure that you at least have a line of credit. At the very least, go in to the bank and apply for overdraft and then a line of credit. Don’t get in over your head right now. Make sure you allow enough time to apply and fix anything that could be getting in between you and the financing you need.
3. Get a cheering section. Don’t be surprised if people in your life warn you how difficult it is to start your own business, especially in a market like this. They will amplify that whisper of doubt in your head until you can’t think straight. Surround yourself with people who believe in you no matter what.
4. Learn the word ‘arbitrage.’ When the economy is tough, many talented people are looking for work or are looking for contract work between gigs. For you, that could mean access to skilled people at relatively low costs. Think creatively!
5. Watch your costs. No need for extreme austerity. Just take an afternoon and comb through your expenses. You’ll be surprised at how many small changes you can make and save yourself some dinero.

One more thing. Since you’re sourcing gemstones and precious metals (both of which are expensive right now), make sure you have built in a decent margin for yourself.

To creating a bold business and an extraordinary life!

Starla

John Jones III http://www.10minutes.org asks:

When should I consider a business coach, if at all?

Great question, John.

Since I am a business coach, you’re probably expecting me to say, “John, if you’re serious about your business, you should have a coach. In fact, all business owners should hire a coach.”

Nope. I’m not going to say that. A good coach knows when a client isn’t ready. A desperate coach will take anyone.

Let me explain.

First off, you can hire a coach at ANY stage of your business, but that doesn’t mean that you should. Think about it this way. A coach really is like a personal trainer. A trainer can help you if you’ve just started out on a new regimen, bored with your workout routine, trying to lose weight or training for something big. Kind of like your business. Anyone can hire one, but if you’re not going to stick with the program, it won’t be a good use of your time or money.

So here is my Am I ready to hire a coach quiz:

1. Am I willing to make the financial investment? Coaching isn’t cheap, at least good coaching isn’t. It’s a long-term investment. Yes, you will see some benefits up front, but don’t go into it as a last resort or expecting a quick fix. Real change takes time, so be sure that you’re willing to make the financial investment to make it happen.
2. Am I ready to really TRY? Like most things, you will get out of it what you put into it. If you just show up each week and expect the coach to do all the work, guess what? You’re quickly going to wonder why you’re paying someone for a bunch of questions. It’s the client’s job to go into each meeting with objectives for the meeting, updates, and questions. It also means that your coach will be pushing you to take action between meetings. Are you ready for some accountability?
3. Do I need a push? No matter how self-motivated you are, sometimes you need a push, new ideas or motivation. Again, think of the personal trainer. If you’re feeling stuck in a rut, that is the perfect time to hire a coach.
4. Do I need objective feedback? Face it, your friends and family have a vested interest in your choices and they’re probably not shy about telling you what they think. Sometimes you need a sounding board, not advice.
5. Are you willing to get naked? To make any real change, you’ve got to get naked. That means that you have to be willing to look at the stuff that’s held you back in the past. It’s vulnerable, scary and humbling. If you’re willing to go there, you and your coach can make huge strides.

If you answered yes, then the next step is how to hire a coach. That’s a whole ‘nother post, but I’ll leave you with this. You are hiring someone to be your partner. They are going to go through a lot with you, so make sure you want them in your inner circle. Trust. Connection. Respect. Those are the makings of a successful coaching relationship.

Hope that helps, John.

Starla

Great question Lizzie, and great foresight as well. Your instincts are probably telling you that brand and reputation go hand-in-hand in many ways. It’s a fuzzy area for some because they are different, and yet so much alike. So let’s first take a look at defining the two and how your reputation can support and influence your brand, and visa versa.

A good brand will heighten consumer awareness, emotional attachment, and be represented or rooted in the company in way of culture, beliefs, operational methodology and so forth. Starbucks is a great example of a corporation that has solidly rooted itself in its brand. From the “attitude” of the barista behind the espresso bar, to the “attitude” of their product and environment, the Starbucks brand creates a “grass roots” image of global awareness and commitment to their company mission. Whether perceived or real, this image branding goes to the core of the company and is accepted widely by the consumer. Starbuck’s belief and message is that by putting people before product they have created a loyal community following worldwide and a commitment from the best coffee growers around the world. And “Bucks’” fans worldwide buy into it – to the tune of 8 billion dollars a year!

Now turning to reputation, using the same corporation as an example: Let’s look at the quality customer service, community-minded spirit, warm environment, global awareness, relationships, and quality product that this brand touts. The level to which they adhere to their brand’s commitment is what creates their reputation. If the average consumer went into a store 3 times in a row and found that the environment was not welcoming, the coffee was stale, there was rarely a fair trade option, the service was poor, and the caramel macchiato never tasted the same, it’s unlikely that this consumer would return. (Well, unless he’s a die-hard venti dry skinny cappuccino fan and options were slim.)

So, in this coach’s humble opinion, yes – reputation is critical to a brand’s success – right from the beginning. Reputation is a piece of branding and visa versa. With that said, a company like Starbucks would be hard-pressed to see the impact of losing a few disgruntled customers, but for a smaller company your reputation for customer service, reliability, quality, and so on, are indeed, strong factors. As you establish this reputation, make sure to embed it into your brand as best as possible. Taglines, mission statements, the “flavor” of your website, photography, and even the use of specific colors, are all good ways to deliver this message and marry your brand and your reputation in the public’s eye. Also, remember that if your name is your brand it’s no longer all about you. This name now represents something far bigger than you are, especially if you are creating a company that you hope to sell someday. Brand it solidly and create a solid reputation.

Good luck Lizzie, let us know if you have any more questions!

How do I get over it? Do I have to totally change my personality? Will it keep me from really being successful?

-Signed Scared of Selling

Dear Scared,

You’re NOT alone! This is a big topic with a lot of business owners out there. Most entrepreneurs think that it should be enough to be good at what you do. Unfortunately, that is not the case. You need to be able to clearly communicate the benefits of your product or service. That doesn’t mean you have to turn into uber-salesperson or that you have to change who you are. It just means that you have to focus your communication to make it easy for people to find value in what you do.

Here are 4 steps that might help you reframe how you think about selling.

Step 1: Determine your target market
Narrow the focus of your target market to be very specific. Fortunately for you, you have already targeted your market to include parent and soon-to-be-parents. But there are a lot of possible peripheral markets like those who might give your bags as gifts. Do you want to include them? I suggest staying tightly focused – it will make it to sell. And yes, it’s scary to exclude other potential segments of the market, but it can save you time, money and energy in the long-run.

Still trying to figure out your target market? Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Who makes up my current client base?
2. Who do I enjoy working with? Who do I wish I could work with more?
3. My skills, products, services provide the greatest benefit to…
4. Does this segment of the market have the money to buy my product/services?

Step 2: Find your target market
Let’s say that, in your case, you are focused on expectant moms. Get to know your target market – where are they, where can you meet them, what do they read, what are their concerns and what do they value? When you can connect what you do to what they value, you are GOLDEN! It’s not selling – it’s meeting a need. Can you start to see that?

Step 3: Educate – Don’t sell
Create a benefit statement that is about your client, not about you. That means that you have to go beyond the features of your business (I make customized diaper bags with 5 pockets) and talk about the benefits of what you do. Be clear about how you can make your client’s life better. An example for you might be, “Our designs are seasonal so you can always have a bag that matches your wardrobe.”

Ask yourself the following questions:

1. What’s great about what I do?
2. What benefits do I provide?
3. Can I save my clients time, money, or energy?
4. Can I tell a story about an existing client that might be compelling?

Step 4: Make the ask
When someone expresses an interest in what you offer, it’s up to you to ask them if they want to buy. The key is to make it your own. Be light, have fun, and be yourself. Here are some examples of how you might do it:

“This one sounds like it has everything you need. With that one on its last legs, it looks like you need one ASAP. Are you ready to pick a color?”

“I love the pink one for you. Which one are you thinking about?”

“Are you looking to get one today or should I call you next week and schedule a time to go over options?”

It’s about moving the person closer to action. They’re already interested, so what’s stopping you?

If you can change how you think about the selling process – rather than feeling like you’re ‘pushing’ your services, focus on educating. You will be more natural and more successful.

To fearless selling!

Starla

First, keep a time log of all of the non-revenue generating tasks that you perform over a week’s period of time. How many of these tasks are jobs that YOU really don’t need to do? Go ahead, highlight all of the things that someone else really could do as well – if not better – than you. Come on – we’re delegating here, let go…. Good.

Now think about the time it takes to do these things: perhaps 20 hours of tedious work per week?

Next: Make a list of revenue generating projects that you could do to focus on if you had that 20 extra hours a week. Now, how quickly would you be able to increase your profits with this greater focus AND 20 hours a week added to your schedule? If you look at it this way, you can’t afford NOT to hire some part time help.

Here’s another tip for the items that you don’t like to do, but really do have to perform yourself: Ask yourself what your HIGHEST energy point is during your typical day. For instance, I am most energetic between the hours of 8am and noon. Likewise, what is your LOWEST energy point in a typical day? Mine is definitely between 3-6pm. Now categorize the tasks that you DO NOT like to do and schedule them for your HIGH energy time. That’s right; your highest energy levels need to be used to accomplish these tedious or dreaded tasks. Most of us do thing we most enjoy during that high-energy time of the day – Big mistake – it doesn’t take much to motivate yourself to do the things you enjoy, but it takes a lot to motivate toward achieving the dreaded tasks. So you are much better off doing those while your energy is up!

Lot’s of food for thought here, but it’s only the beginning. See where this gets you and keep us posted – we can learn a lot from one another on Ask The Coach, so make sure to keep us informed of your successes as well as those challenges!