7 Top Tips to For Building Confidence For Women in Business and Leadership

As a woman leader in business you always need to know how to build on your levels of confidence. The good news is that staying confident in your abilities is something that you can control. These 7 top tips give you specific ways that you can develop your abilities and increase your self awareness in leadership.

1. Listen. Listening is one of the most important skills for any leaders to develop. It is more important than speaking skills as listening lets you form the foundation for a good public speech. Learn to listen to the right people who have wisdom to share. Be selective about whom you listen to and the type of information you feed to your brain. Verify information and be sure your sources are accurate and worthwhile. There's so much talking and things being said that it's easy to get confused. You can't be a confident leader if you design your information base from faulty materials, so learn to listen carefully.

2. Prepare. A confident leader is a prepared leader. She knows what she will present and how to present it. Preparation even means having the right materials in order for you to present a professional and powerful image through your dress and accessories. Don't wait until the last minute to pull things together that you need to be a confident leader. By staying prepared, you can accept an invitation that could expand you career at what seems like a moment's notice, because you are always ready to make a move. Preparation is the key to being confident because you will know what you can do and what you understand about a situation. Preparation is how leaders stay confident in all circumstances.

3. Mentor. Leaders learn how to lead by watching the steps of a mentor. A mentor is usually a person who is wiser in an area than you. You can't learn everything from a book; practical knowledge is needed to know how the theories actually work. Find a mentor to show you the insider ropes to leadership. Mentoring is a needful skill for women in leadership and one that many women are not provided with on a normal basis. If you don't have a person to mentor you in your local area of company, look for a professional mentor or leaders in professional associations or organizations locally or online. Contact that person and ask them to be your mentor.

4. Network. A confident leader will have a strong network of influential people that she can call on in a variety of circumstances. Your network should have people who provide insider information, can provide contacts that move your goals along, and be people who can tell you where to go and when to increase your visibility and opportunities. Carefully create a strong network of power brokers that you can nurture and grow in order to build your leadership confidence.

5. Assess. Take time to assess your personal and professional background and realize how many sills and abilities you actually have. It's easy to forget how skilled you might actually be because of your busy lifestyle. You might have forgotten that you already know what a lot of people are trying to learn. You can find opportunities to teach, lead, guide and mentor from a data base of skills you already possess. This lets you understand the range of your capabilities and potential.

6. Train. Stay on top of the latest technology and continue to increase you knowledge in areas pertinent to your leadership. Taking courses to increase your skills is easy with the addition of online and offline classes. You can find a course in almost any topic. Don't get behind when it's simple to stay ahead of the learning curve by getting the training and education you need. Go to workshops and seminars include those designed especially for women in leadership positions.

7. Read. Leaders are readers. It is known that people who lead will read at least 12 books on business and leadership a year, if not more. Pick up a book and read it. Learning just one new concept or technique will be worth the price. Also get a subscription to a leadership magazine and read monthly updates on what people are doing in different industries. Take ideas from one place and use them to enhance the operations where you are. Read newspapers, special reports and white papers and online ezines designed for women leaders.

These 7 tips provide important ideas that you can use to increase your levels of confidence as a women leader. You can take immediate responsibility for your leadership growth by doing the things that let you know you are prepared, ready and able to lead when the time comes.

Consuelo Meux, Ph.D. coaches professional and executive women to build the confidence and communication skills to start and grow a small business that generates elegance and financial freedom. Get a free business plan template, resources and other support at her website. Enjoy monthly teleclasses on Communication Skills for Successful Business Women for only $9.95 a month. Private fast track coaching is available for the woman who is ready to move into her success - fast. http://www.consuelomeux.com

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About Blogger: Known as creative, enthusiastic and passionate, Lisa Hromada, personal brand strategist, designer, and creator of Brand Essentials Home Study Program, specializes in brand communication and design for women entrepreneurs and small business owners. What makes you extraordinary? Are you effectively communicating your promise of value to your ideal audience? Are you attracting the success you're meant to have? Find out how you can increase your business success through creating a powerful personal brand: http://www.lisahromada.com

Build Your Business - The Know, Like, and Trust Factor

You've no doubt heard the phrase that people like to do business with people they know, like and trust. Think about it - the same things applies to you? When is the last time you did business with someone you didn't know, like or trust? We have limited resources - money being one of them. If we want to invest our dollars wisely, then we are going to seek out opportunities that are comfortable and reassuring.

We can describe that another way. That is, inherently, we are wired to be risk-averse. Risk is a fascinating topic and having taught enterprise risk analysis, it's a topic that's little known in academic circles and even less addressed directly in business circles. As a human being, though, you're hard-wired, for the most part, to avoid situations that expose you to risk.

And that applies to our relationships as well. That's why we want to develop relationships with people before we take another step. That's why we date before we get married. It's why we research companies before we apply to jobs and it's also why we want to get to know, like and trust someone before we exchange our hard-earned dollars for whatever products or services we might need.

With that in mind, and as you seek to grow your business, you need to orient your activities around growing, maintaining and sustaining your relationships with others. The "others" are your customers or clients of the future. Get to know them. Call them up and chat. Find out about how you can best serve them. Ask for feedback on products and services they may have already purchased from you. Invest in them in a genuine and authentic way and you'll be pleased with how they invest in your later.

So build your list, but also keep it top of mind that you're trying to build a long-term relationship with your followers. You don't just want customers or clients - you want customers or clients for life.

Tara Kachaturoff works with entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses faster, easier and with less effort by implementing strategies and systems to increase performance and bottom line results. Sign up to receive Easy Online Marketing Tips at http://www.MyEasyOnlineMarketingTips.com If you want to achieve better results, try a better method. Learn more about how you can use online marketing strategies to increase your visibility and credibility online.

6 Ways to Increase Your Earning Potential Using the Internet

There are many options on the internet to put a little extra cash in your pocket as well as attract more viewers to your website.

The following are just a few options to consider:

1. Affiliate Programs: There are many websites that offer affiliate programs. Affiliate programs benefit both parties in the agreement. They can be great resources for extra income and they don’t take a lot of work to start. Amazon is one reputable website that offers different options for their affiliate program. Amazon offers a feature called “aStore” where you can design a section of your website to feature Amazon products and provide a link to Amazon. If the product sells from the link that you provided on your website, you get a small profit. Be sure that you choose products that relate to what your business offers. For example, if you are plumber, you might want to consider advertising products that have to do with plumbing and home or business repair, rather than choosing a product such as a book about traveling to Peru. You can earn up to 15% when your visitors buy the featured product on Amazon through your link.


2. Sell your stuff: We know that you can sell your stuff on Craigslist, but did you know that you can also sell on Amazon, EBay, and many other sites? Most of the websites that offer features to sell your goods take a portion of the final price. Some of the websites let you choose what percentage, while others have a set fee that they take from the total profits of the item sold.


3. Sell ad space on your website: This can be a good option, though you have to make sure that you are able to accept or reject ads that want to be placed on your website. It is usually free to sign up to use an ad placement company who will help you manage and profit from placing ads on your website. Research ad placement companies before doing business with them. Be sure they have a privacy policy and be sure that you read it.


4. Write articles: I was recently introduced to Associated Content. They offer articles, stories, and opinions on just about any subject. You can make up to $20 per article that you submit, depending on how popular and beneficial the subject matter. Another option is ezine Article Submission. By submitting articles to ezine Article Submission, you attract more of your ideal clients and increase your chances of making a sale on your products and services by bringing more people to your website.


5. Build your own online store on your website: Websites, such as Zazzle and Café Press, offer options to create your own products and sell them on your website. Look at the terms of these types of websites to determine what percentage they take from the purchase of your products and how you are paid.


6. Sell your knowledge and expertise: E-books are becoming more and more popular as a way to advertise your products and services as well as earn additional income. Ebooks come in all shapes and sizes and on multiple topics. You set the price and give a link to your online shopping cart, market your e-book and you’ll be selling it in no time. The “trick” is to write about what people want to know. It’s as simple as that.



Copyright 2009 Lisa Hromada lhcreativeidstudio.com - All Rights Reserved

Where to Start Your Internet Marketing

I recently spoke with one of the top social media strategists, Sally Falkow. I asked her what her recommendations are for those wanting to start out their online marketing and don't know where to begin. I'd like to share her response with you:

Sally Falkow's Recommendations for Starting Your Internet Marketing

1. figure out two keywords or phrases that will bring good, relevant website visits to your website


2. optimize your home page and one interior page with those terms


3. add an RSS feed to your website


4. write one article each week and add an image (be sure to tag your image as well with good words)


5. Use an RSS feeder


6. add your articles and images with tags to the website. The articles will go into the feed and links within your article lead your ideal clients back to your website



If you're interested in more from Sally Falkow, you can find her at http://falkow.blogsite.com and http://twitter.com/sallyfalkow



Copyright 2009 Lisa Hromada lhcreativeidstudio.com - All Rights Reserved

4 Ways to Improve Your Website Content

Get more people visiting and coming back to your website! The following are just a few ways, but some of the best ways to improve your website content.

1. Optimize your website content.
You might have a drop-dead gorgeous website, but if no one is finding you, what's the point? The only way that people will find you is if you optimize your website so that the search engines can seek out your content. Many of my other articles will focus on the best tools that I've found to optimize your website.



2. Add key words and phrases to your website pages (which is one very important way to optimize your website), so that visitors quickly scanning your website find exactly what they are looking for right away. Most visitors only spend 10-20 seconds at the most checking out the content on your home page to see if it is worth their time. Make it worth it!



3. Be sure you describe your business clearly and prominently on your website so your audience can find you in search engines. There is a special place within your website, called the description tag, where you should write a short description about your business, products and services for those looking at your listing in the search engines. Whether you are designing your website yourself or hiring someone to create it for you, be sure that your description tag is utilized properly.



4. Update, update, update! Search engines love new content! Update the content of your website on a regular basis and the web “spiders” will keep coming back for more, thus improving your search engine ranking.



Copyright 2009 Lisa Hromada lhcreativeidstudio.com - All Rights Reserved

Search Engine Optimization Keyword Tips to Attract Your Ideal Client

Search engines are all about keywords and phrases, so in order to rank higher in the search engines and attract more people to your website, you need to know the basics of using keywords on your website. Follow these simple steps and start the process of increasing your Internet visibility!

1. Write at least 300 words on your home page. Your home page is the top page of your site and is the first to be searched out by the search engines. The content must include relevant keywords related to your products and services, and should be written clearly for viewers to follow. Avoid filling the page with keywords and phrases that don’t make much sense to the people reading them.


2. Choose the right keywords. First determine exactly what you offer, how it benefits your clients and what other information your clients will find valuable. Determine some words that your ideal client might put into search engines to find what you offer, then work from there to create a list of keywords and phrases to put on your website.


3. The top word phrases used are: two and three word phrases and can be as much as four, five and even up to six-word phrases.

Good luck and have fun!



Copyright 2009 Lisa Hromada lhcreativeidstudio.com - All Rights Reserved

How to Attain Balance in Work and Life

For most women entrepreneurs, juggling the demands of career, family and personal life is their number one challenge. Often feelings of overwhelm arise when trying to strike a balance. To avoid these feelings, it is best to prioritize the activities that are the most important to you.

Here are some ideas and methods that have helped me and can help you find balance:

Keep a log. In an effort to avoid overwhelm, I began to track everything I do for one week, both work-related and family-related. I then decided what is necessary and what I can eliminate to have more time for more things that satisfy me.


Separate work time from personal time. Though it may not always be easy in today’s technologically driven community, turn off your work-related cell phone and any other devices when you make time to spend with your family, yourself, or your friends. Give yourself (and others) a break from being obligated to immediately respond on your ‘off-hours.’


Know it’s okay to take time for you. Women tend to have a habit of always putting others first and they neglect nurturing themselves. This neglect is an important contributor to the stress that comes from not finding balance. When you begin to eliminate the feeling of guilt for not doing everything that others ask of you, you will be much happier and better able to find the balance that you seek. Fight the guilt. It sounds like a simple concept, but it is not always easy to do. Women often have a difficult time saying no, but keep concentrating on making quality time to nurture yourself; otherwise you’ll never find that balance. Find a little time each day that you set aside specifically for you, such as running, working out, watching your favorite show or reading your favorite book, or whatever that might be.


Concentrate on the current task. Do you ever find that when you are concentrating on one thing, you’ll notice that the dishes need to be cleaned, or the clothes put away, or the trash dumped or the bed pillows fluffed, or whatever else that may need to be done? I have been guilty of this on more than one occasion. Be strong; concentrate on the task that you currently have scheduled to get done. If you allow yourself to get distracted too much with other things, you will not be able to accomplish what you set out to accomplish that day or week.


Schedule out your time. I have found it very useful to write a list of attainable daily goals and schedule them out by the hour. I will do this for each day of the week, so that I don’t have to guess what I need to do next and by the end of the week, I can look back at how much I actually accomplished. I am always pleasantly surprised. They don’t have to be huge goals, but smaller goals done in increments. A family calendar can help as well. Each person writes out their daily/weekly events and things to do and this is helpful in avoiding any schedule conflicts or time crunches.


Plan out your time off. Try to make a habit of doing routine-type things little bits at a time during the week, so that you feel better and more relaxed on the day that you schedule for play and relaxation.



Remember, balance doesn't mean doing everything. Write out your top priorities and set your boundaries.

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Balance in Design

Having balance in life makes us feel good. It is the same for design. When designers incorporate different elements on a page in evenly balanced layouts, it makes the viewer feel more comfortable, at ease, and less confused. All designs have specific basic elements to convey a certain message beyond the individual words and graphics that are placed on the page. How these elements are placed on the page determines how our eye moves around the page as well as how immediately we get and understand the intended message.

Balance in design works throughout all kinds of brand materials:

Logos

Business cards

Letterhead

Advertisements

Fact Sheets

Brochures

Books

Newsletters

Press Releases

Websites

and more...



First, What is Balance in Design?

Visual balance comes from arranging elements on a page with the purpose of not having any one section of the page be too heavy visually. At times, designers intentionally place elements on a page to create a visual imbalance to express a certain mood or emotion.

Basic principles of balance in design encompass 4 main principles:

Proximity - Proximity refers to how close or far words and graphics are from one another on a page. These elements together create an overall balance, telling the eye where to look.


Alignment – Aligning the elements of type and graphics on the page can aid in reading and understanding the intended message. When correct alignment on the page is not accomplished, it can make the layout difficult to read and may drive away viewers.


Consistency - Consistent use of type and graphics shows the viewer where to go and it helps them navigate the layout easily.



White Space – It is important to use white space, not only for balance, but also to give the viewer a place for their eye to rest. Designs that cram too many elements in one space may be too difficult to read or make the viewer feel uncomfortable.



Copyright 2009 Lisa Hromada lhcreativeidstudio.com - All Rights Reserved

5 Simple and Productive Ways to Improve Your Business

After talking with many small business owners and entrepreneurs, I have found one main theme to what they want out of their business – more freedom! So, I took that to heart and have made it my mission to help. Take a look at the following basic steps to make this coming year a year of health, wealth, and more freedom in your business!

Harness that crazy schedule
I have often expressed, “there are just not enough hours in the day.” Here is one way that I have found to free up hours in my day and get myself out of the “people-pleasing” mode that we often put ourselves in. One time management technique that I have found particularly effective is designating slots of time in the week for certain activities. For example, I set aside certain times during the day to return phone calls (unless they are urgent), certain days of the week where I meet with potential clients and do all those other (thousands) of little things on my to-do list.


Learn when and how to say, “no, thank you”
It is important to know what is going to be the best use of your time and commit to only those things, events, and meetings that are going to be the most beneficial to you, your business, and your family. I began to analyze the quality of my invested time and realized that if I said yes to one thing, meant I had to say no to another, perhaps more important, thing. I realized that if we all cut back here and there on some things that should be lower on our priority list, we are better able to be productive for our clients, family, and most of all, ourselves.


Put yourself on (creative) timeout
When working on a project, marketing plans, or generating creative ways to solve a client’s problem, it is best to find a quiet place to let your creative thoughts flow. I have found that the best ideas and solutions come when I am able to concentrate on the flow of thoughts and solutions for my projects. Your quiet place may be a corner of the library, or a room in your home, or perhaps you find that staying "after hours" in your office is a good place to sit and work without the many distractions of the day. It’s amazing how much you can accomplish when you have a few hours just for you. Not only is it productive, but it also gives you a greater sense of energy and accomplishment.


Take a hike!... or a walk or run.
I find that I come up with some great ideas when I am out walking or out for one of my longer runs. It does not necessarily matter how often you go out or for how long, what matters is getting out of your current environment, clearing your mind, nourishing your body, and replenishing your energy reserves.


Change your mind set about building relationships
“Networking.” Yikes! Am I the only one who flinches a bit at the mention of that word? For those of us who network just for the sake of "networking" because we are told that is what we should be doing as part of our business plan (which is true), I have some good news. You don’t have to hit the pavement as much as you think. I’ll admit, when I first started venturing out to network, I had to force myself... but I ended up meeting some pretty great people. And in all honesty, I had networking all wrong at first. Networking is not about going to meetings, passing out your business card, and telling people what you do; unfortunately, it is just not that simple. Networking is about creating relationships by attracting people with your knowledge and with the exchange of ideas. Change the way you view networking and it will make meeting people and sharing your great products and services much easier. The most important part of this tip: Don’t attend networking meetings with the sole purpose to sell your product or service. Your main goal should be to meet your target demographic, learn and listen to what matters to them most, and start to build strong relationships. Somehow along the way, the rest of what you want will fall into place.





Copyright 2009 Lisa Hromada lhcreativeidstudio.com - All Rights Reserved

Where to Begin Discovering Your Personal Brand

The unique way in which you make a contribution to the world relates to your overall ‘personal brand.’ Your 'personal brand' relates to what you do both personally and professionally. It's about bringing your natural character and talents into your business to make it more profitable and compelling. A positive personal brand is partly about doing what you enjoy and the value that you provide to others through your work. I meet many people who desire to make a difference and provide a better life for themselves and their family.

They usually feel that they have to do something ‘big’ in order to make a difference, whether it be making a difference in another individual or making a difference in the prosperity of their business, but in fact, many of the smallest actions in life and in your business for the benefit of others is what contributes to making the biggest differences. If it weren’t for all of the ‘little’ things that people do each day through their business, there would be no ‘big’ discoveries or advancements. I enjoy the aspects of personal branding and what it brings to others who are in the process of discovering and growing their personal brand excellence. It is an empowering feeling to do your life’s work in the excellence of who you are and not who you think that others want you to be. This brings me to what is personal branding.

One can begin to discover their personal brand by identifying what are their unique gifts, strengths, characteristics, and the passions they have in your professional and personal life. By going through the process of identifying these characteristics and defining your personal brand, you can create a compelling identifiable personality for your business, package your services and products more effectively and attract more of your ideal clients. Doesn't everyone want to stand out from others who offer the same types of products and services? Of course! Personal branding can help you stand out from others as well as give your business immediate and positive recognition in the eyes of your ideal clients.

Take the first step.

Figure out precisely what you want, how you are going to accomplish what you want, what steps that you need to take, and who was going to help you when you need help (don’t do it all yourself; you may burnout). To help organize your thoughts, write each one of these categories on a piece of paper and explore the answers.

What do I want for my business? What do I currently offer and what additional things do I want to offer in the future?

What steps do I need to take in order to accomplish what I want?

Who can help me with the specific things that I want to accomplish if I need help?

Also, open yourself up to seeing opportunities to grow personally and professionally. Once you know what you want and ways that you can accomplish what you want, you may find it easier to see opportunities that may be beneficial to you when they arise. Examples of opportunities may include opportunities of marketing your services better or opportunities for attracting more of your ideal clients. Taking the first steps to identifying your personal brand may take much inner exploration, but it can be well worth the time that you spend. I know you can make some great discoveries once you get started toward defining your personal brand for your business! Once you are able to identify the unique characteristics of your personal brand, you can utilize these characteristics in the marketing of your brand so that you are better able to attract more of your ideal clients and stand out from others who offer similar products and services.



Copyright 2009 Lisa Hromada lhcreativeidstudio.com - All Rights Reserved

How to Build a Stronger Brand By Understanding Generations

One of the essential elements to building a strong brand for your business is to understand the unique characteristics of your ideal client. In order to truly understand what your ideal clients value and what their concerns are, you must conduct some in-depth research into what they like, what they look for in a brand, how they make buying decisions, and much more. Understanding the different generations, how they think and what concerns them is a great place to start. It can help you find creative ways to communicate with your ideal clients on a personal and emotional level.

When you know the attributes of your ideal clients, you are better able to find them, reach out to them on their level, and provide them with quality services and desirable products.

The following provides you with a start to understanding the different generations:

Generation Baby Boomer
Baby boomers were born approximately between 1946 and 1964. This is a generation of hard workers and they believe that hard work pays off. Baby boomers lived through the women’s rights and civil rights movements, and they were determined to live the “American Dream.” They have a different mentality than generation X and generation Y, which at times frustrates them because baby boomers think differently and have had more years lived and lessons learned. Because baby boomers received much of their identity from praise and most of the praise came from work, it is important for them to be acknowledged for their hard work and where they are today.

Generation X
Generation Xers were born approximately between 1965 and 1978. They saw all of the mistakes that the baby boomers made and they are determined to fix them and not make the same mistakes. They are the generation known as the latchkey kids; they were left home alone to take care of themselves because both of their parents (or their single parent) were forced to work and make money for the family. They contemplate family life wisely and with caution due to growing up in a society of high divorce rates. They desire a healthy balance of work and life.

Generation Y
Generation Yers were born approximately between 1979 and 2001. These are the children of the young baby boomers. This generation behaves much more grown up at their young age than previous generations. They are often thought of as the generation with high self esteem with no experience to back it up. With guidance, this generation has the potential to make a powerful and positive impact on the world. They believe in giving and finding better ways to live one’s life.

As you can see, each generation thinks and values things differently. By understanding how your ideal clients think, feel, and what they value will make a significant difference when it comes to building and developing your brand.



Copyright 2009 Lisa Hromada lhcreativeidstudio.com - All Rights Reserved

3 Simple Steps To Create A Total Brand Experience

Branding is not just about creating a logo or using the same colors on your marketing materials; branding also includes the experience that your clients and the public have with your brand. Create a total brand experience inside and out. Keep in mind that you are not just marketing a product or service, but also the experience of using the product and doing business with you. From the way that you decorate your store or office to how you present your products and services, creating a brand experience that appeals and tickles the senses can have a powerful impact on your clients and it can be a determining factor in whether they choose to buy from or do business with you.

A total brand experience is increasingly important to developing an emotional connection with your ideal audience. The ways in which you connect emotionally to your audience is by relating the benefits of your business to the ‘quality of life’ concepts important to people. Stress relief and convenience are two good ones that come to mind though there can be many others of benefit to your specific audience. A total brand experience is one that engages all five senses; this can greatly affect your clients’ overall acceptance of your products and services as well as get them talking about it.

People tend to remember things better when more of their senses are engaged when experiencing something. When creating a new product or decorating your office or store, set a goal to create a user experience that will engage your visitors in new and creative ways. You can use words, visuals, sounds and smells to stimulate the client’s overall experiences and imagination. When a potential client is not able to experience your products first-hand—let’s say when you are selling a product on your website—you must be able to use words to stimulate the viewers senses and allow them to imagine the experience of using your products and in what ways that they can benefit from using your products. Words can be powerful tools when advertising and marketing your business. Finding the ‘right’ words can allow the client to subconsciously taste, smell, touch, see, and hear a product just the way you want them to, as if they were actually experiencing that product first-hand.

A total brand experience begins with taking action! So, here are three steps to take to begin creating a total brand experience:

Step One: Take out a piece of paper and write down these categories: smell, taste, touch, sound, and sight.



Step Two: Choose a product or service that you want to advertise.


Step Three: For each one of the categories, write down what the user experience might be like when using your product or doing business with you. Take one sense at a time. Tip: Be creative! Just because your service may be cleaning bathrooms, doesn’t mean that you can’t provide a more creative ‘sensory experience’ in describing your services. After you have cleaned someone’s bathroom, what is the result? For example, “After Mary’s Cleaning Service is finished with the job, you’ll feel like you’re frolicking through fields of daffodils each time you flush the toilet.” Immediately upon hearing this description, I picture a huge field of flowers. I can imagine smelling the freshness of the flowers and imagine how they might feel against my legs as I frolicked through them. I may even imagine hearing them rustle as I make my way through the field. This is a much more pleasant and rich experience than just talking about the features of Mary’s Cleaning Service services. Good luck and have fun.



Copyright 2009 Lisa Hromada lhcreativeidstudio.com - All Rights Reserved

5 Ways to Set Yourself Up for an Extraordinary Business Year

Here are some of the ways that I have found to best nurture a growing business.

Set up an environment fit for the new you.
It's more than having your books in order and desk organized; it's about creating an entire work environment that stirs positive, creative thoughts. These positive thoughts turn into positive emotions; these positive emotions are what drive you to your best ideas. When you feel good, your mind is more open to finding creative ways to solve problems and bring in business. Now is a great time to get organized and surround yourself with things that inspire your creativity!


Learn to be self-centered
“What, self-centered?!?” Yes, yes, we were all taught that being self-centered is never a good thing, but it is all in how you define those words. A self-centered environment is one of the healthiest and most beneficial tools to the success of your business. Here’s what I mean: Some of the most successful (and happy!) women and men that I know, have one important characteristic in common; they are self-centered. They know how to center themselves so that they are the best they can be for themselves, their family, and their business.  They make the time and take the time to eat healthy, exercise regularly, and make sure they get an adequate amount of sleep.

“Dress for success”
How you feel is often how productive you will be. How you dress has a lot to do with how you feel. Well, you see where I am going with this. It does not matter if you are working from home or in a dark radio station where no one will ever see you, dress in attire that you wouldn’t be embarrassed to have your clients or co-workers see you in. Even if you are alone, you will take yourself more seriously and be more inclined to focus on the task at hand if you dress the part. Of course, this does not mean that you have to dress in your best suit, but it wouldn’t hurt to put on some nice jeans and a clean shirt.


Give yourself some “white space!”
Look around you. If you find that your workspace is filled with papers, stacks of books, old newspapers, your child’s drawings, and empty cups of coffee (from all those late nights), get rid of them, immediately! Creativity and inspiration does not come from clutter or knick knacks scattered everywhere, it comes from giving yourself a little “white space” (design term for spaces for the eye to rest). Creativity and inspiration comes from surrounding yourself with paintings or drawings or whatever else gives you inspiration and makes you feel good. So, all you clutter-bugs, get rid of all those things that represent the “uninspired” you, and surround yourself with beautiful, inspirational things that represent the “new, prosperous” you.


Give your creativity a chance
Take the time to harness the power of the creative part of your brain. The trick to doing this successfully is to not give your creative brainstorming sessions a time limit. Creativity can’t be squeezed into a short period of time when you are also thinking about all the other millions of things that you have to do after you get out your brilliant ideas. Try taking two or three chunks of time per week and go to an environment that inspires you and see what thoughts and ideas pop up. Many of your best ideas will come from these sessions. Write out ALL the ideas that come to mind, and when you find an idea that you feel has great potential, take the time to pursue it in detail for a while and see where it leads.




Copyright 2009 Lisa Hromada lhcreativeidstudio.com - All Rights Reserved

Why Have a Personal Brand

"A strategically designed brand builds credibility in the eyes of your audience and the public at large."

A personal brand helps you to stand out from others and attract more of your ideal clients. Personal branding is about finding and leveraging your unique characteristics and talents in your business. There may be many people who offer the same types of services as you, but it is the unique flavor that you bring to your business that makes your clients and the public want to do business with you. The visual and verbal elements of your brand will create a substantial impression in the mind of your clients and the public at large. The wonderful thing about design, and what you will find as we work together, is that certain colors, shapes, images, and typography can be a determining factor for whether a person is going to buy or do business with you. Your clients want to feel something when they see and interact with your brand. Colors, graphics, photography, and typography have a lot to do with that.

My focus is on helping entrepreneurs and small business professionals build on their natural strengths, develop a strong brand and market their business most efficiently, by providing the tools that I have found most effective in the marketing of products and services, both online and offline. With a little inspiration and creativity, you can take control of your business success and reclaim what belongs to you - your freedom.

Copyright 2009 Lisa Hromada lhcreativeidstudio.com - All Rights Reserved

Work-Life Balance - Taking Care of Your Life's Garden

When you spend any time out in nature, really out in nature, you see just how predictable nature is. When a landscape is deprived of what it needs to thrive -- be it rain or not enough sunlight -- that landscape begins to wither; it cannot survive and the landscape begins to take on a different form. On the flip-side, when a landscape has what it needs to flourish, it is a beautiful and pristine place without blemish and in the state it is intended to be. People are a lot like nature.

Like nature, people are predictable. When we are unhappy and un-centered we get itchy-scratchy; we tend to do, say and be things that are out of character. When we don't nourish our bodies, it changes shape and we don't have the energy we need to be who we are meant to be. Yet, when we are tearing it up at the gym, nourishing our bodies, having fun, and know who we are and where we are going, we become serenely centered in what we do, what we say, and who we "be." The best news of all is that unlike nature, we are not at the mercy of the heavens or mankind to nourish and care for us. We have a choice to be happy or not; to take care of ourselves or not; to let other people under our skin or not and to be who we are meant to be, or not!!

How do we get rid of the weeds in our life's garden and get re-centered in who we are?

First, you have to get clear about what not taking care of you is costing you.
Envision for a moment the seeds of your life (your efforts, your dreams, your relationships, who you are and what you do) playing out in a garden. The first garden is well tended, fertilized, weed free, hydrated, and in beautiful, full bloom. The second garden is parched, overgrown with weeds, and the few seeds that landed there are struggling to become what they were meant to be! If you are a gardener, which garden would you choose to plant your seeds in? The point is that the fundamental foundation of our lives is built out of the way we care for ourselves, and if you want your life to be the best that it can be, you will choose to take care of your soil first; you will choose to take care of you so that the seeds you plant in your life (the things you choose to take on, the relationships you have, etc.) can fully bloom!

Second, you have to be committed to you.
Just like a garden, your life requires maintenance. You can't take great care one week preparing your garden's soil and planting seeds, and then not hydrate and weed your garden the next. Having a great life requires you to be vigilant. You've got to take care of you consistently, not just when time allows. Otherwise, taking care of you will become one of those things you have every intention of getting to, but don't ever do!

Third, have a plan for taking care of you.
Create a written plan for taking care of you that says what you are going to do and when. Include only things that you love to do and have dates by-when you are going to do them. For instance, do you love to fish? Pick up your calendar and schedule a day to go. Do you love dates nights with your spouse or family movie nights? Schedule the time to actually do it!! When you make the time to do what you love to do, you will find that you are more energetic and productive doing the things you must do. (For instance, cleaning out the cat box or finishing a project for work!)

Fourth, you have to ask for help and accountability.
Keeping our lives weed free isn't always an easy task. If it were, we'd all be bouncing off the walls happy! So, the best way to stay on track with regard to your commitment to you is to ask for help and accountability to do so. Ask a trusted friend, a co-worker, or even your children to hold you accountable for doing what your written plan, for taking care of you, says you are going to do. There are people in your life just waiting for you to ask for the help you need; to support you in having a happy and centered life!

Finally, teach others the value of taking care of themselves too.
When we nurture nature, it gives back to us in the beauty it provides, the recreation we enjoy, the water that hydrates us, and the food we eat. And in nurturing ourselves, we need to give back to others as well! We need to teach those around us the value of taking care of them. Now we don't do that by giving up a piece of ourselves or time with our families to teach. Instead, we teach by being an example of what "taking care of you" can do to brighten and energize ones life! Not only will you help those around you transform their lives, but it will allow you to constantly sharpen your own "taking care of you" edge!

You are the only person who has a say in how your life turns out. If you want to be energetic, passionate, and happy you've got to take you on. There isn't another person, job, house, car, or electronic gizmo that can make you happy. Only you can do that, but you have to choose to! So, what do you choose?

Clay Nelson is a business coach, experienced talk show host, author, former "nail belt wearing" contractor, and speaker at numerous trade show and corporate events including: International Builders Show, Remodeling Show, International Pool Spa Patio Expo, International Roofing Expo, and many others. Backed by 30-years of experience and leadership in the building industry and as a business coach, Clay uses his innate intuition and people skills to help his clients take a look at what's stopping them from achieving their goals. He then helps them create plans and build teams for getting what they say they want and by-when they say they want it! He is the founder of Consulting Services Network LLC, Clay Nelson Life Balance, and a non profit organization called Transforming America's Youth that makes a difference for troubled youth throughout the United States. For more information, go to http://www.claynelsonlifebalance.com

Business Traits for Women

What traits should women develop to excel in business? You need a lot if ever you would want to get into this world mostly dominated by men. It takes a lot of courage and generosity for any woman to compete. And if you are that kind of woman, the following traits can help you stay afloat especially in these trying times.

Perseverance Perseverance first before anything else, says one woman entrepreneur whose business is into custom printed booklets. In fact, her booklet printing company took 5 years before it was able to get many customers to come regularly to her shop.

It takes many years before one can bear fruit as a business. There is really no instant formula for success. So be sure to be ready for the long haul because in order for you to survive, you need to persevere to see the fruits of your labor later on.

Passion Women are associated with this particular trait. As passion goes, you need to have excitement and zeal in every business venture you undertake. Nothing can be achieved without passion. You should be excited to wake up every morning because you know you are going to attend to business matters for the rest of the day.

Patience Results are not made overnight. It takes patience to find out if you are in or out of the competition. Especially for the custom printed booklets entrepreneur, she says that with the advent of digital technology, there are so many booklet printing companies that have surfaced in just a few years. According to her, there are many websites where one can go to have their custom printed booklets reproduced that it is hurting many booklet printing companies' offline. You just need to be patient so people will see the difference in the kind of service you provide.

Again, there is no such thing as instant success. Even Fortune 500 companies that have been in the list for so long have started from scratch at one time or another. It takes a lot of patience and perseverance to continue moving on even when the times are getting harder and harder.

Creative Do not be afraid to think of new ideas and update your business knowledge. Be more creative when providing solutions to problems. And be sure to look at things in different ways. Profits are made from different angles - be it financial, social or environmental. People in general can make changes even when the times are hard. No matter the climate or how small your business, you have to put on different shades to your business to survive the economic crunch.

Partnership To be successful, you have to pull in many skilled and knowledgeable people to help you with your business. Do not be afraid to ask for advice from those who already know the ins and outs of the industry. Be sure to get help from those who have the skills and specializations that you do not have. Hence, you should determine your strengths and weaknesses so you can provide balance in your business venture.

Balance Women in particular are very good at creating balance in their lives. It is especially demonstrated in how they have been able to have both a career and a family life. In fact, women are known to have been successful because of their capacity to balance both their feminine and masculine side. Thus, women have the natural capacity to go deep into relationships with clear thinking and strategy.

These are just some of the traits women entrepreneurs should have in order to excel in business. If you think you have what it takes to be a business owner, then go ahead and show what you can do. Women can succeed, and they do mean business.

For comments and inquiries about the article visit: Printed Booklets

Janice Jenkins is a writer for a marketing company in Chicago, IL. Mostly into marketing research, Janice started writing articles early 2007 to impart her knowledge to individuals new to the marketing industry.

The Journey of Self Discovery and Self Development

Taking personal responsibility for the direction of our lives is what self development is about. To be able to do a self assessment of our lives and the reasons why we are not happy takes honesty and lots of soul searching. Depending on where you are in your life, and what you are looking to achieve, (happiness, inner peace, success or better relationships), the process can take five minutes or five hours or maybe somewhere in between.

Self development is about taking the necessary action to create the life you want. It is not something that can be achieved without practice, persistence and lots of work. Life is about developing and changing to meet the different circumstances that are presented on a daily basis. Learning from the lessons that have created pain and then being able to recognise when the same situation or circumstance arises again is valuable to our own development of becoming and a better person.

Often when there are things that have happened in our lives that have created memories that keep flashing back, it is easy to forget the reasons why we have embarked on a journey of self discovery. Those memories can trigger unpleasant thoughts that make it difficult to put a plan into place to change and develop our lives the way we want them to be.

It may appear as being hard work having to develop a new way of thinking and being. The rewards of having the persistence to keep persevering at the challenge of creating a new life is well worth the effort. The process involves a number of elements. Planning, developing and then creating are just three. The commitment for the rest of our lives to always be ready to embrace change is a major focus of self development.

The benefits appear in all aspects of our lives. Our relationships with other people improve. The environment that we work can become a better place to be because of the shift in our own attitudes. Perhaps the most important and significant improvement will be how we feel about ourselves. The progress in the level of our self esteem and self confidence will shine through when we don't allow other people to put us down or treat us badly.

This is all part of the journey of self discovery when we embark on self development - start thinking about where you are at in your life and you have started on the journey!

The Challenge of Happiness guides through a step by step process towards living a balanced and happy life. Tracey Mulry will be your life success coach and help you boost your self esteem, become a positive person, maintain healthy relationships, overcome stress, learn to relax and remove negative emotions from your life. Take the online course today and live a happy life! Tracey Mulry is an extraordinary individual who is now a success and happiness strategiest, author, inspirational Australian, motivational speaker. Tracey guides you towards finding your true happiness through her life skills and wealth of experience. From the lowest of the low now soaring to new heights of self esteem, Tracey and her program can help you achieve your goals. http://www.challengeofhappiness.com Read My Blog: http://www.thechallengeofhappiness.com.au/_blog/Traceys_Blog

Launching a New Product Or Service - Things Two Types of Women Business Owners Should Consider

Launching a product is an important step in growing a business. If you're already in the business of selling products, it's an opportunity to expand into a new market. If your primary business is in services, offering a product is an opportunity to get beyond the "dollars for hours" trap and begin creating residual income. In either case, launching a product, or even a new service, takes time, forethought and a great deal of investment. And, while it's exciting, it can be stressful, too.

A new study from Jane Out of the Box, an authority on women entrepreneurs, recently revealed there are five distinct types of women in business. Each of these five types has a unique approach to running a business-and as a consequence, each of them has a unique combination of characteristics and factors. This article profiles two important Jane "types" and the things they should keep in mind as they plan for (and launch) new products.

Jane Dough is an entrepreneur who enjoys running her business and makes good money. She is comfortable and determined in buying and selling, which may be why she's five times more likely than the average female business owner to hit the million dollar mark. Jane Dough is clear in her priorities and may be intentionally and actively growing an asset-based or legacy business. It is estimated that 18% of women fall in the category of Jane Dough.

If you're the Jane Dough type, chances are good you feel totally confident about this launch. You're a big picture gal, and you probably believe this launch will benefit your business. But before you go ahead with it, here are some things to think about:

• Staying focused on the big picture means you may fail to truly analyze all the potential risks and benefits of your new product or service. Although you make good business decisions and are able to separate your business from your emotion, sometimes you move so fast you forget to consider all the angles.

• Have you adequately assessed your market? Do the parameters and features of price points associated with the product need to be tweaked? Are you reaching your target market with the right message? You've got plenty of business coming in and plenty of other plans in the works. That doesn't mean you don't need to yield to those caution signs. Slow down and analyze all the intricacies, colors and patterns that make up the big picture you love so much.

• What about the system around your launch? Have you taken the time to explain to your team what they need to do to make the launch a success? Having a system in place can prevent problems before they happen-and just thinking about that system can make you slow down enough to consider all the angles.

By taking the time to understand exactly how this new launch fits in-rather than staying focused on the big picture vision, and forging blindly ahead-you'll be able to learn from possible mistakes before they happen.

Tenacity Jane is an entrepreneur with an undeniable passion for her business, and also one who tends to be struggling with cash flow. As a result, she's working long hours, and making less money than she'd like. Nevertheless, Tenacity Jane is bound and determined to make her business a success. At 31% of women in business, Tenacity Janes are the largest single Jane type.

If you're the Tenacity Jane type, you're no stranger to challenge. But that doesn't mean you should create another one for yourself. Before launching a new product or service, ask yourself some questions:

• Is adding a product or service a smart business decision, or is it just something you just really want to do? Tenacity Janes tend to love what they're doing so much, and want it so badly, that emotions sometimes get in the way. The deep and abiding faith you have in your business and in yourself as an entrepreneur is what keeps you going-but it won't launch a new product and keep it off the ground.

• Is the timing good for adding another output for your business? For Tenacity Jane, finances are an issue. If this product launch fails, will it put you out of business? Is this a risk you can afford to take right now, or should you put it off until your business more stable? A product launch can boost your business-but it also can suck your resources dry.

• Have you done enough research and planning? For some Tenacity Janes, their business results from a great concept but a poor plan. For others, they have a great idea but no clue how to run a business. Make sure all your ducks are in a row before you launch a product. What if your product takes off? Are you equipped to handle a huge increase in business? Remember, if things go well, you're going to be swamped with more work. And if they don't, you're going to be out a lot of money. Either way, you need to be prepared.

• Are you looking at this possible product launch as just another challenge? Well, it's not! Launching a new product is a big deal. Make sure you're giving it enough thought, time and attention. We know you're familiar with struggles, but launching a product has the potential to take up even more of your time, use up even more of your money and cause even more desperation. Make sure you're ready!

Each Jane presented here-Jane Dough and Tenacity Jane-has several things to consider before launching a new product or service. Each entrepreneur must decide whether this is the right thing to do for her business-and for herself. Because in the end, isn't that what this is all about? Asking herself the right questions and thinking about the right issues will allow every Jane, when the time comes, to move boldly forward in the future.

Interested in learning more about the five Jane types and which Jane you are? Check out http://www.janeoutofthebox.com Michele DeKinder-Smith is the founder of Jane Out of The Box, an online resource dedicated to the women entrepreneur community. Discover more incredibly useful information for running a small business by joining Jane Out Of the Box. Jane offers networking and marketing opportunities, key resources and mentorship from successful women in business, and is now available as a FREE, 7-day trial membership. Claim yours today at http://www.janeoutofthebox.com

Personal Branding a Must For Your Job Search

Wikipedia defines personal branding as the process whereby people and their careers are marked as brands.

As social networking becomes an even larger part of our online world. Establishing a personal brand is almost a must these days. Why do you need a "Personal Brand" as a job seeker? Simple, to make yourself stand out from the crowd.

If you have a Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace or any other social networking profile, you have a personal brand. The question is not only what does your brand say about you but how can you use it as a job seeker to land your next job?

Tom Peters wrote an article that appeared in Fast Company last year titled "A brand called you" Tom states:

"Regardless of age, regardless of position, regardless of the business we happen to be in, all of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You."

As a job seeker, this should open your mind to think about branding yourself for your job search. You are the Chief Marketing Officer for your brand and you should take this function seriously.

So how do you get started? Take advice from experts out there that have given this a lot of thought. Dan Schawbel in his recent book Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success takes you through all the steps necessary to establish a good Personal Brand. This book is a good, easy to read account of what Dan experienced in his journey of establishing his own personal brand. His is an empowering story and a model to use in building your brand.

Dan outlines some basic elements of what should be included in your personal brand.

Personal Brand Elements:

* Personal Appearance - Including clothing, hygiene and attractiveness.

* Personality - Your values, goals, identity and behavior.

* Competencies - These are cognitive, business, communication and technical skills that enable you to perform your job responsibilities.

* The Differentiator - Offering a unique value proposition or benefit to your target audience.

Put these elements together in your own voice and your brand will start to come together.

Search Google for personal branding resources. There are a lot of articles, blogs and conversation around personal branding and it's role in your career. Gone are the days when a cover letter and resume were all you needed to communicate to an employer your background and experience.

Recruiters are faced with a very large pool of talent in this economy and are looking for professionals that do stand out and define their value to an organization. Those who embrace, create and nurture a personal brand will be the candidates that float to the top of any recruiter's talent pool.

Final tip: Clean up your social networking profiles! Recruiter's do look at them and for better or worse consider what they find in qualifying you for a position. Online impressions are everything!

John Walker, Co-Founder, Talent Evolution, LLC, http://www.talentevolution.com John is a job search expert with over 15 years of experience in human resources, corporate recruiting, recruitment advertising, career development and coaching. His focus is directed to the online job search process by using social networking and social media technology. He makes the often confusing elements of the online job search understandable by providing an "insider" perspective of common recruitment and hiring process for job seekers.