Hopefully you have had a killer, “Rock Star” kind of year.  If you did, that’s just awesome.

But if you are like many of the folks I’m talking to these days, the year has been a challenging one to say the least.

I know entrepreneurs who have lost their confidence, gotten jobs to supplement their business earnings, and are having a hard time seeing past this moment in time.

Watch  this video as I share my ideas about some mindset tips to help you stay focused and keep going.  And I’d love you to put your ideas on how you stay inspired in the comment section.  We are all in it together, so let’s share and help each other.

And if you can’t see the video – click on this link:    http://bit.ly/6KMPmb

One of my favorite shows is The Biggest Loser. Why? Because it’s one of the most inspiring things you can see on the tube. In this article I’m going to parallel the contestants and what they go through with you – my entrepreneur tribe. As you watch their journey, I’ll show you how you can be reenergized in business.

Let’s start at the beginning. The Biggest Loser contestants have it tough. So much tougher than we “normal sized” folks do. Why? Because they can’t hide. If you look at them with 100 extra pounds on their frames, you could assume that there is something not working in their lives.

That’s the good and the bad news for them. The good is that it doesn’t allow for slipping into denial because their pain or dysfunction is publicly visible. And maybe that makes them just a bit luckier in some ways.

Luckier? You are probably well aware that if you pull the curtain on some of the success teachers, actors or athletes, they are hiding many, many things. Maybe they are hiding the fact that they aren’t really making the money they claim. Or perhaps it’s that they are having personal or relationship issues themselves.

I think that when we are in the public eye – and as an entrepreneur you are in the public eye – the tendency is to want to put just a bit of ‘spin’ on the less-than-great elements in your life. It’s hard to step up and be authentic about the challenges you have gone through or the things that haven’t worked when you have the ability to put the nice suit on, crank out a few more happy tweets, and just go about the business of not dealing with what’s real.

But not my Biggest Losers…nope. They bare it all, and on national TV. As the saying goes, “The only way around is through.” These folks work through their issues to get to the healthier, happier, and beautiful person underneath. Week after week they face their fears, get pushed past their limits, and find strength in themselves that they never dreamed existed.

Isn’t that what the entrepreneurial journey is about? That’s how I have experienced it this last year, and I want to share my formula with you, so you too may have the business that brings you joy.

It’s about having D.A.T.E.S with your destiny –

D – Decide to change – The contestants first have to come to a place where they decide that they can no longer continue to keep living in this way. What do you need to decide? How about that you will have more fun in your business? Maybe it’s that you will finally give yourself permission to put yourself more fully into the work you do. Or perhaps that 2010 will finally be the year that you bite the bullet and get the team support you need so that you can devote yourself more to doing the work you love. Whatever it is for you…DECIDE! Repeat that to yourself over and over and over…”I am deciding to ______________, or I have decided ________________.” There’s power in that!

A – Assess what’s true – within the first week on the ranch where the Biggest Losers stay for the duration, they are giving a full battery of tests to determine their level of health and fitness. This is where many of the final shreds of denial fall away for these courageous souls. Last season a woman who was 49 years old tested out at about 61 which shocked the heck out of her. Some times we want to run from the parts of our business (and life) that are a bit messy. We don’t want to see that maybe our books aren’t in order, or that we haven’t been charging what we should, but by not looking at that, it still has power over you. How about this….”You can’t grow what you don’t know.”

Here are a few things you should be assessing for the health of your business –

Your marketing: how frequent and how effective is it?
Your follow up: is it automated?
Your billing: is it done on time?
Your books: are you getting up to date P & L’s and reviewing them regularly.
Your wealth plan: is it growing?
Your networking: are you making new connections and building powerful relationships?
Your offerings: does your market want something new for this year?

Have the courage to make a list of all the things you want to assess and have courage to tell yourself the truth.

T – Train with the Best. If you have seen the show, there are two very different strength trainers who work out the contestants. One is a very open-hearted guy named Bob, who clearly loves the contestants and shows that. The other is a kick-butt gal named Jillian, who is also very much there for them, but does it in a ‘boot camp’ way that calls them out when they are giving up on themselves. She screams and doesn’t let them off the hook, and while I’d probably be a mess of tears, her “in your face” style does the trick of helping the contestants to remember why they are there.

So let’s replicate their success. Who do you train with? Who calls out your brilliance, even when you can’t see it for yourself or are too tired to go on? Who loves you, supports you, designs exercises for your growth, and is there cheering you on? Every great athlete has multiple coaches. You just cannot expect to grow your business without training with the best, so in 2010, make it your #1 priority to find the best coach or mentor out there and let them get their hands on your business the way Bob and Jillian do for the contestants. You’ll love the results!

E – Enhance Your Environment – The contestants live on “The Ranch” which provides an environment for success. Thomas Leonard, the Father of Coaching used to say, “Environment is stronger than will” which means that a well constructed environment can pull you forward, while will is something you have to push and work at. An example of a powerful environment could be a mastermind group. You just show up, plug in and get new inspiration. Another one would be to design your office so that you feel energized just being there versus dragged down by clutter. There are environments in what sort of things you are reading and taking in. Are you surrounded by thoughts and ideas that enliven you and bring out your best? If not, change it.

S – Step up and Play Big – The final contestants of the Biggest Loser all get a makeover and then their families (who have not seen them in months) get to see the new person that has emerged. The metamorphosis is unbelievable. That’s what I want for you. To step up. Do the thing you have been afraid to do. What part of your business could you make over? Maybe that website that has been languishing could use a revamp. How about adding some teleclasses to your offerings to showcase your brilliance. Or let’s get crazy here….why not write that book you have been talking about for years?

It doesn’t have to be a complete business overhaul, but you have to start somewhere. Ask yourself these questions…

What are three things I could do that would energize my business and my spirit?
What help/support would I need to pull that off?
What results would I like to see as a result?
When will I get started?

There you go. My thoughts on how you can be The Biggest Winner!

Be sure to leave a comment on what you are going to do on the blog, and know I’m here to support you. (Not like Jillian, but I’ll for sure hold your greatness ’til you can see it.)

Wow.

Within ten minutes, some juicy gems flowed out of me.  Two sentences that took the powerful but doubting business woman from feeling less than, to being back in her power.

Let me share them with you.

This client of mine is currently in a coaching program with some BIG hitters.  Or at least that’s how she views it.  The gals she’s associating with make loads more money than she does, so she was sharing how she didn’t feel worthy.  She compares herself and falls short because all she can see is how financially successful these other women are.

But what I know about her is how brilliant and talented she is and how much she could teach them about her unique niche.

So I asked this question:

“What are you measuring,“ I inquired.

She told me that she had decided that she wasn’t worthy because she was measuring the difference in their incomes.  Measuring this made her feel less than, inferior, and like a big fat fraud.

“What if you measured something else,” I asked.

“What if you measured the relationships you create, or the heart you have, or the connections you make with people?  What if you measure your integrity, or your desire to step up and really make a difference in the lives of your clients?  Now are you equal to these other women?”

“Wow” she replied.  “I never thought of it like that.”

Guess what…I know most of us don’t think of it.  We base our worth and value one one measure.  Often times its how much money is rolling in.  And of course we beat ourselves up, so my challenge to you is to find at least four other things to measure yourself against.  If you can do this, you’ll very likely lighten up on that trash-talking-monkey-mind that reminds you of your lack.

As the conversation progressed she felt much better, but still had some remnants of “but look how much more successful they are” feeling.  So I told her my favorite analogy….

None of Tiger Woods’ coaches are better golfers than he is!

Do you know how refreshing it is for me to acknowledge that?  What it means to me, is that we all have our slice at what we are brilliant at. Tiger’s coaches can’t out golf him, but they can see what he can’t.  And that’s the beauty of coaching. When this client heard that, you could feel her energy shift.  When she could ‘own’ her slice of the pie, she saw how she could powerfully help these superstars in her program.  Sure, they were successful at what they were doing, but weren’t so successful in the piece that she is an expert in.

So the next time you are comparing yourself and feeling like “Who am I to be claiming to be an expert here,” I want you to imagine some guy hanging out on the green telling the greatest golfer in the world where he needs to make some changes.

Don’t ever diminish yourself.

The world needs what you have to offer, so my challenge to you is to find even more ways to step up and claim your expertise.

And I’m here to support you!

Blessings,

Therese

Imagine this…..

You have a brand new baby.  You love this baby.  You have hopes and dreams for this baby.  You have worked hard to have this baby.  You have prepared, planned, saved, struggled, and now the baby is here.

Would you hand it over to people who couldn’t care for it?

Would you leave it in the street and forget about it for weeks at a time?

Would you let everyone else in your life determine how the baby will be raised?

Would you ever think that maybe someone else would do a better job loving and raising your baby?

Crazy, right?

If we think of a baby we see how absurd it it, but isn’t that what we do with our business dreams from time to time?

Don’t we hand them over to people who don’t get us?

Or maybe we get scared and forget about them until we can get enough confidence.

And how many of us have let other people in life tell us that what we are doing is just a bit crazy?

The worse one?  When we compare ourselves with others and determine that we just aren’t good enough to raise the baby that is our business dream.

So today the Mindset and Marketing Maven is gonna give you some powerful tips that will help you handle these “Dream Stealers” so that you will be able to actually use their funky energy as fuel to propel you to move even closer to that goals you have.

Here’s where we start – Internal and External boundaries

Solution #1 – it’s all in your head.  Yep.  The problem doesn’t lie in them being who they are, the problem lies in your interpretation of what they are doing, saying (or perhaps not saying or doing.)  We want approval, even if we don’t admit it.  We want people in our lives to ‘get’ what we are doing and support us.  That’s totally normal. But there are two kinds of drives that motivate people.  The quest for FREEDOM, and the desire for SECURITY. If you are a freedom seeking entrepreneur – get this – someone who values security above everything else will NEVER get you. They may think you are reckless, irresponsible, or just plain crazy for following that thing in your soul that propels the entrepreneurial dream.  (In fact, one of my favorite concepts comes from Robert Kiyosaki of Rich Dad who says that if you choose security, you’ll never have freedom, but if you choose freedom, you’ll always have security.)

Questions that will make all the difference for you when dealing with these Dream Stealers -

When you step into the shoes of the person who is being negative and not understanding you, ask yourself what motivates them.  How do you threaten their current status quo?  If you shine, will it show them where they are playing small?  If your income suddenly skyrockets, will they feel less than because theirs isn’t?  Have they been raised that there is nothing more important than getting that great job and benefits so the government will take care of them?  (That’s funny now, isn’t it!)

Usually they can’t support you or are tryin to keep you stuck/small because of something they fear.  It’s not about you at all.  When you find out what this is, it neutralizes the charge and you don’t have to take it personally.

Solution #2 – reframe it. Reframing means that we give something a different meaning, or we look at it in a different way.  I’ll share a personal example.  I got divorced four years ago and lets just say it DRASTICALLY changed my financial situation.  So as many would be, I initially felt a bit victimy that here I was, on my own, with no 401K, much less income, and loads of ’stuff’ that I had to work through in my prosperity consciousness.  For awhile, I blamed my ex for putting me in this hard situation.  I was mad that I had to make the sacrifices I did, and yet hated how that kept me in funky energy and with a wee tad of resentment if I’m being authentic here.  But guess what?  Today I thank him in my mind because his leaving caused a whole cascade of new growth in me that I would never have had the opportunity to experience.  Now I reframe all of this as being Perfect and in Divine Order because I’m blessed by all the work I have been able to do to shift my old way of being/thinking.  See, nothing changed except how I chose to look at the situation.  And we all have this power.

What is it for you?  When someone doesn’t believe in you – call it all good!  Because if we have people who always loved and supported us, we may never have to dig deep and fight for what we want. From the old days of being a therapist, there is a theory that when there is a break in attachment/connection is really when the growth occurs because in that moment, resilience happens.  Your biggest pain-in-the-butt people are really your greatest teachers.   Bless them!  Have you heard the expression, “Living well is the best revenge?”  You don’t necessarily want anger or resentment to drive you, but these people are showing you simply a reflection of where you may not be believing fully in yourself.  They act as a mirror to a weakness in your foundation, so when you learn to not take it personally or give them power, you win.

Solution #3 – “No” is a complete sentence. Don’t you love that!  I have talked about internal boundaries by doing the work on your own thinking and reframing how you hold the event, but at times you just gotta say, “talk to the hand.”  (Or to quote the girls in my sons school, “Talk to the booty because the hand is off duty.”)  Either way, I’m giving you permission to set a boundary on taking in other people’s stuff.  When I was attempting for the first time to have natural childbirth, my mom who is a nurse felt compelled to tell me everything that could possibly go wrong.  Of course  I used to solution #1 and could see what she was afraid of and how she was protecting me, but after awhile I just had to tell her that I appreciated her trying to love me this way, but I wasn’t willing to hear any negativity because I knew I’d need all my mental strength to protect my desire to pull off that drug free birth.  (And it did–twice!)

Your number one job is to maintain your emotional energy.  You are entitled to have people who support you, see your greatness, and call you out so that it can be born in you.  Sometimes the Dream Stealers are in your home.  That can be hard.  But you have to ask yourself this….”Is it more important to stay true to myself, or sacrifice to keep the peace?”  I can’t answer that for you, but I’d sure vote for #1 because if you are opting always to keep the peace, there is eventually no YOU in the mix any more.

Your number two job is to find your tribe.  Where are the folks who see your greatness and get you?  Where are the ones who can help you stay on track?  You need to give yourself that gift.

And now….tell me your dream.  I promise to hold it, love it, and see it being birthed in you…….

Blessings my tribe!

I got the most touching note in the mail today.

“Thank you for having faith in me when I didn’t have faith in myself to get this project completed.  You have my unending gratitude.  I reached out to over 200 women and I heard several “no’s” several “I’m busy right now, and a few people even questioned whether I was “worthy enough” to have 15 minutes of their time….Thanks again for saying yes.”

Months and months ago someone reached out to me to be a part of their project.  (I’m not including details or the name)  It’s finally come to fruition and to today I got the thank you note.

Truthfully, I was delighted to share my story and the journey I have been on as an entrepreneur.  Especially if my sharing the challenges I’ve overcome can help someone else shorten their learning curve or add to their success.

But it got me thinking how people could wonder if this person was ‘worthy enough’ to speak with them.  It sort of felt like the athlete that no longer gives autograph’s because they are ‘too big’ these days to spend time with their fans.  The same people who helped elevate them to celebrity status.  In this internet marketing/service provider/social networking fish bowl we all swim around in, why is that happening?  We are used to hearing about the spoiled baseball player or the cocky actor, but let’s not go down that road.  Let’s take the best of humanity and highlight it.

So here’s what I’m suggesting….

Say yes.  You don’t have to give it all away for free, but if you can take 20 minutes helping someone else make their dreams come true, isn’t that a worthy way to spend your time?

How about a little Pay-It-Forward energy.  It will really make your heart sing, and that good energy will come back at you ten fold.

Remember – we are all in this together.

And I’d love to have you write your thoughts on the topic of giving some away versus holding yourself back as an expert.

Take care!

Therese

The four words that changed everything -

“Mom, Kim is dead.”

No fourteen year old should ever have to make a call like that.  And with that call, my world went spinning out of control.

Let me tell you the back story first.

I had been booked to speak at the National Association of Entrepreneur Mom’s first Success Summit.  This was  a fabulous opportunity as I was to be the wrap up speaker, and truthfully…had prepared a kick ass talk!  I was also really excited to launch my “Marketing of YOU” program there and connect with Cathy Alessandra and the amazing women she brought together for this event.

Earlier that morning, I had meditated and journalled, writing that I wished to be a Light and of service.  I had planned on leaving my house at 10am to catch my flight out to LA.  Little did I know that just 15 minutes later I would get the call from my son telling me that they had found their step mom dead in bed at the age of 47.

“Mom, Kim is dead” Danny said as I heard my youngest son John sobbing in the background.  I was shaking so hard that I could barely finish the call and get over to their house.  My ex and I have a very good relationship and his wife Kim and I were also really close.  She was family to me, and now my family was in crisis……so that mama bear in me went into action.  I didn’t realize that when I had written that I wanted to be of service just an hour earlier, that it would be for my ex and the numerous people who’s lives were touched by this tragedy.    

But it took its toll on me.  Yeah, I handled loads of details and was there for everyone – except my business.  Not only did I choose to cancel my trip to the Success Summit, but I had to push off the launch of the Marketing of YOU program.  I could barely think, much less plan a launch, or coach anyone out of a paper bag.

Today, 9 days after the death, I mostly have my energy back.  We are all coping and John has stopped having nightmares.  I’m way behind in my writing, but ahead in my soul because of how I have shown up and been in service to my ex and kids.  And along the way got amazing love and support from folks in my community.

And it’s all life.  As entrepreneurs, we can’t take our lives out of our business.  Sure, we can make plans and schedule things, but when life is being life and yanks the rug out from under you…there is only one thing you can do – roll with it.  So I have come up with a formula – S.O.A.R – to get through the challenging times.

S= Surrender To The Situation. Most of us suffer because we don’t accept things as they are.  Was I disappointed that I couldn’t get on that plane?  Damn right.  Did I for a minute doubt my choice of staying home to be with my family, absolutely not.  I didn’t understand it, and if I be truthful the loss of revenue did run through my mind.  But I never felt like a victim.  Instead I surrendered to Life and the plans that Life has for me.  I embraced what needed to get done, and ended up being so incredibly grateful that I hadn’t gotten on the plane.  Whatever you are going through, the easiest way is to surrender.  Asking why or being pissed off at the situation will cause much more stress than if you roll with what is in front of you.  Easy to say, and hard to do, but if you practice acceptance, you will find grace in the middle of the pain.  It also helps if you stay in the moment.  Everything passes.  Things do return to ‘normal’ in time.  Or at least a new normal.

O=Only Handle The Essentials. The gift of being your own boss is that you can walk away.  But the challenge of being your own boss is that it’s all about you!  So in a crisis, who is there to help pick up the pieces.  My friend MaryPat Kavanagh had a death in her family during the middle of her Savvy Mompreneurs Telesummit earlier this year.  She had to leave town, yet had an amazing team who stepped in and kept the ball rolling.  In a time of crisis, what can you off-load, postpone, or just stop doing all together?  The essentials I handled?  Sleep.  Food.  Nurturing my kids.  Nothing else got done and I had to be ok with that.  You must give yourself permission to operate at about 25% of capacity for awhile.  Beating yourself up for not being able to be super woman here is silly.  Slow down.  Let go.  Breathe.  Gentleness is the key.

A=Allow Yourself To Be Supported.  Imagine this…I have a launch that I’m excited about, yet have no energy, no brain power, no motivation, and no idea what to do because I didn’t know how long this stage would last.  What did I do?  I sent an SOS email to “my girls” who love and support me.  I basically said, “Hey gals, I got nothin….  I’m supposed to be in a creative mode, but I have no reserve right now.  I need some help.” Can I tell you the truth.  It used to be horribly painful to ask for help.  Years ago, I would have suffered in silence.  But not any longer.  It’s a different story today, and the relationships I have are all based on mutual support.  My amazing friend Shawn Driscoll stepped up and worked her magic with me.  She’s one of the most talented coaches I know. Interestingly enough, she’s had to deal with her mother having a major stroke in the middle of the launch of her How to Create Your Signature Program group which starts in a couple of weeks.   I have been there for her and now it was her turn to give me a leg up.   After an hour on the phone with Shawn, the Marketing of YOU program is done and I’m excited about it again.  Big lessons here…we are not meant to do things alone.  I encourage you to pick up the phone, send an email, or just ask folks you know to support you.  You bless them by allowing that opportunity.

R=Receive The Gifts. Yikes.  This one is where spiritual mastery comes in.  I just got off the phone today from talking with a friend who discovered she has a tumor on her brain and will have her head drilled open next week.  She said, “I used to have to wait till the experience was over to see any of the gifts in it, but this time around I can see right here and right now the gifts that are possible.” For her the gift was in receiving nurturing instead of always being the giver.  Even in Kim’s death I can see gifts and healing happening.  If you set your intention and be on the look out, you can find gifts in every situation.  This takes the sting out of it, and since we are such meaning making creatures, it can provide a spiritual or more profound meaning.

In closing, know that life sometimes is like a box of chocolates, and sometimes it sucks!  You can’t escape it.  You can learn from it, transcend it, and become a better person.  You get to choose.  And I’m right here for ya…rootin ya on.

Blessings

May you rest in peace, Kimmy…….

What is in the center of your life?  How does this fit in with your business?

Let me share with you what keeps me inspired.

I’d love for you to share  your comments about what you are a stand for.

When you know this and really anchor it in everything you do, you’ll be more authentic and on purpose.  And isn’t that what we all really want?

Blessings!

I don’t know when it hits you, but most of my inspirations come about just as I’m waking up in the morning.  All the good stuff gets downloaded, and suddenly I have clarity, creativity, and just know that it’s Divine Inspiration.

That’s what happened this morning.

You see, I’m making some changes in the way I have been working and will be clearing some space for the next BIG thing to come in.  So there is an element of letting go that is necessary, without fully knowing what’s next.  This calls for loads of faith.  And mostly I roll with it really well.  But there are those days where my mind wants to get in and control….or at least pretend that it has control.

Because our minds feel safe when they have little jobs…like figuring out what to do in any given situation.  But when LIFE moves you, there is nothing your mind can do but sit and wait.

But I have one of those trickier-than-most minds.  It can get a hold of something and it’s like a dog with a new chew toy.  So the ‘battle’ between faith and will kicks in.  And since my very bright mind LOVES to figure out things, sometimes it wins.

This morning however, the Divine answer was shown to me.  Since I’m working on creating my new program for November, there are loads and loads of details and “what if’s” that spin through my head.  “What if this happens, what if this doesn’t happen, what should I do about xyz?”  But this morning, the message was clear:

Relax, and give thanks that it’s already done.

“What, my mind said?  How can it be done, I haven’t even put the webpage up or gotten any clients in the program yet?”  Then I heard this:

Just relax, and feel what it will feel like when the program is filled.  Be grateful and feel peaceful.  It’s already done.

Later in the day I listened to an audio a friend sent me that also suggested that so many of us spend our mental energy in what’s not working, that there is where we get stuck.  But what if we just spoke of the delight that we will feel when we accomplish what we want.  I could speak about how excited I am that 10 perfect clients were inspired to take the program and have had amazing results.  I can feel how blessed it would be to make such a difference in their lives, and how I was able to also contribute more to the economy by helping them earn more money.  And it would feel crazy good to celebrate with my team and give them each a bonus for pulling off such a seamless launch.

Doesn’t that energy feel loads better than the more traditional, “OMG, I have to fill this program…what if they don’t buy….is the price to high…” crap that goes on in most of our heads.

The secret here?  Pretty basic Law of Attraction stuff, but it was so powerfully clear this morning when that Voice said to me:

Relax, and give thanks that it’s already done.

Now what about you?  Can you relax and give thanks?  It’s a heck of a lot easier than doing it any other way.

And I’d love to hear your story.  What are you working on creating, and how are you relaxing into that?

Blessings!

This is an article I published last year that is good enough to repeat…hope you enjoy!

You know how they say “life imitates art?”  I believe that life imitates business!  Lessons in our lives are the very same ones that we bump into in our business, so in this article I share with you the story of how an incident with my dog showed me one of the problems that business owners run into daily.  This lesson is called:

4 Steps to Leveraging Your Time and Talent

After his recent near death experience and a VERY expensive surgery, I had to take my eleven year old dog Colby back to the vet to get his sutures out. He had eaten a stuffed Easter egg (which didn’t pass through!) so ended up having to have it removed which left an 8 inch incision in his stomach.

On Saturday morning as I was ready to get him in my van, I discovered that no matter what I did, he wasn’t going in. I’d lift, push, cajole, and basically tried everything I could do, but my 80 pound elderly, weak-in-the-hips pooch would just slide under the vehicle. It occurred to me that one of us was gonna get hurt, so I did what every smart business owner would do….I called in reinforcements! OK, the ‘muscle’ in this case was my ex who lives about a mile away. (Yeah, we have that cool kind of relationship….) One quick phone call and in a few minutes the ex popped over and said canine was comfortably in the seat on the way to the vet.

Here is the application for your business … Support = success!

Now why in the world would I share this story about my geriatric dog and my need to call for help? Because it’s the perfect entrepreneur’s dilemma!

I had a ‘project’ I needed to do but didn’t have the resources to make it happen on my own. The theme for this article is to encourage you to see who can do the ‘heavy lifting’ and help you out in areas where you need some more support.

Below is my four-step process for embracing this really important principle in your business.

Step #1: Open your eyes! Take a look around at your business and where you either loose energy (bookkeeping maybe?) or where you are chronically overwhelmed, or when you know that if you just had a few key pieces in place….you’d really be able to take off. Sometimes it will be letting someone do the tasks for you, or maybe it’s the need you have to learn a new skill. What would it be for you? Make a list…………

Step #2: Visualize! The next step is to allow yourself to imagine what would be possible if you had this piece in place. This is where the fun is. If you could design it EXACTLY how you wanted, how would it look/feel/be? Now, everyone knows about getting ads posted on Craig’s List or putting up job descriptions, but what I coach my clients around is to make sure you put in the intangibles.  We all want someone who is skilled, etc, but this is where your values come into play.  Do you want to have your new team members be fun, or creative, or self starters?  Adding this one piece is critical! Your turn…dream big! What would you love to see in terms of support?

Step #3: Strategize! Now where do you find this person? There are two ways of doing it. The first is the ‘inner game’ way of just harnessing energy. Part of the ‘magic’ is if you just set the intention, the Universe conspires to support you. (Anyone ever watched The Secret?)

The next way is to do some research about who is out there that could ‘fill the bill’ for you in this area.

Using the social media sites like Facebook or LinkedIn are really fabulous ways to connect.  One of my clients recently needed a marketing manager, so I just put the question to my LinkedIn list and got over thirty people recommending folks! Using other people’s networks and referrals is the best way to go in this case.

Now it’s your turn…after putting out the intention, create a list of where you could find the support you need and a list of who you could go to for help finding it. Don’t forget the power of your network. Ask others who they know.

Step #4: Realize! Now that you have found that perfect person, how is it going to work? What has to happen for you to put them on your team? Maybe you just need an advisory board or possibly a peer run mastermind. In either case, explore what’s the win-win for all parties involved.

If you need to pay for some new team members, do a calculation about how much business you’ll need to bring in to cover the new cash outlay. Truthfully, many entrepreneurs get themselves stuck in the trap of “I can’t afford to pay anyone to help, but I’m so busy doing so much administrative stuff, that I can’t earn more money either.” If you find yourself in that conundrum, ask yourself the following questions -

1. What’s the minimum investment I’d need to make to move forward? (Example, if you can only spend $500/month…what could that money buy you?)
2. How long would it take for me (with the new people in place) to begin to see a return on my investment?
3. What is it costing me to NOT have these additional resources? This could be in time, money, or just stress! Be honest here.

Now it’s time to take action!  Plan for the projects that you need support with, and get the people in place to make that a reality.  Once you begin to work this way, you’ll never look back!