Soulpreneur Success Web Log

Did You Hear What They Said? 3 Tips to Make Sure…

It’s no secret that the world is full of diverse and unique beings.  My husband, who is left handed, never fails to amaze me in his method of solving problems.  Since I’m right handed, we always go through two different thought processes to reach the same conclusion.  He, of course, loves to remind me that he is in his “right mind”.

Not only do we think differently, we hear differently.  People tend to hear other people based on their perceptions and what they have lived through.  What we hear is what we expect to hear much of the time.  Sometimes the customers we’re talking to aren’t telling us the whole story, so it’s even harder to get a clear picture of how we can best serve them.

Advertising Your Small Business - Persistence is the Secret!

For all you business owners wondering when enough advertising is too much, here's a timeless reminder of just what it takes to get the attention of your target market.

The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same

1. The first time a man looks at an advertisement, he does not see it.
2. The second time, he does not notice it.
3. The third time, he is conscious of its existence.
4. The fourth time, he faintly remembers having seen it before.
5. The fifth time, he reads it.
6. The sixth time, he turns up his nose at it.
7. The seventh time, he reads it through and says, "Oh brother!"
8. The eighth time, he says, "Here's that confounded thing again!"
9. The ninth time, he wonders if it amounts to anything.
10. The tenth time, he asks his neighbor if he has tried it.
11. The eleventh time, he wonders how the advertiser makes it pay.
12. The twelfth time, he thinks it must be a good thing.
13. The thirteenth time, he thinks perhaps it might be worth something.
14. The fourteenth time, he remembers wanting such a thing a long time.
15. The fifteenth time, he is tantalized because he cannot afford to buy it.
16. The sixteenth time, he thinks he will buy it some day.
17. The seventeenth time, he makes a memorandum to buy it.
18. The eighteenth time, he swears at his poverty.
19. The nineteenth time, he counts his money carefully.
20. The twentieth time he sees the ad, he buys what it is offering.

Written in 1885 by Thomas Smith, London, England

The moral of this story is, if you're going to advertise  be persistent!

Powerful Women on the Rise

USA Today recently published an informative article about women leaders in the Tech world.  The statistics presented were very impressive.  The article stated that there are more opportunities today than 10 years ago because more women are pursuing engineering degrees and careers.  They are now "better suited" for fast-paced careers in the online world.

The number of female engineering graduates in 2005 was nearly 13,200, up 8% from 2000.  The number of female computer science grads rose 7% to 11,235.

In the same article, however, it was pointed out that even though women have made advances in the tech companies, they still lag behind men in getting promotions to high level positions.  As Gary Beach, publisher of CIO magazine stated, "It is still very much a gentlemen's club". 

What the article did not mention was what the women in this demanding field have to give up to get to the glass ceiling.   I remember the days of taking my children to the babysitter and worrying about being late getting to work.  I also remember the stiffling feeling of not having the freedom to come and go as I please, when I please.  I will never take my ability to be free for granted.  It is a precious part of my life as a small business owner.

Still many women are in the pursuit of their dream of being a high level executive.  After all, it is hard to give up a regular paycheck, even if you do have to sell your freedom to collect it...

Any comments?

Surviving Your Small Business Startup – 3 Stress Relief Tips

When I worked for a large corporation, I worked long hours at times.  I thought it was necessary to maintain a level of respect from my peers and my managers.  It also didn’t hurt when it came time for evaluations…

Now that I’m, thankfully, self-employed I sometimes work even longer hours – but not to impress others – it’s for me and my family and to maintain the blessed freedom I so love.

For many years, being newly self-employed, we didn’t take vacations, only long weekends occasionally.  But that kind of hard work and dedication is not usually best for anyone in it for the long haul.  Everyone needs to give themselves time off for rest and relaxation.

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Freedom Day!

I hope you are planning to have a wonderful celebration of freedom!

The Miriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines freedom as: The quality or state of being free; the absence of necessity, coercion or constraint in choice or action; liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another.

In many cases to obtain the state of being free, we have to release ourselves from the coercion or restraint of our own minds. We live in a world of unlimited choices, and we all have the freedom to choose what makes us happy in all areas of our lives. If we aren't happy, we have the freedom to make a choice for change. But, nothing changes until you change what you are thinking and doing.

So, this Fourth of July holiday I encourage you to spend some time celebrating and some time contemplating what changes you may want to make in your life and in your business to make it even better.

Remember, all it takes is for you to make a decision to make bold choices and exercise your freedom to stake a claim on what you want - and never give up until it is yours. Have a safe and wonderful Fourth of July!

Wishing you love and success,
Sandy

Should Your Business be Your Life's Work?

When you're in business for yourself, it can easily become an all consuming passion.  If you're spending most of your waking hours doing what you need to do to be successful, hopefully you are enjoying those hours and they are feeding your soul as well. 

In the January 2008 Science of Mind magazine, I read an article in which Stephen G. Post was interviewed.  Mr. Post is a bioethicist and professor of medical ethics with Case Western University School of Medicine.  In this article, Post recalls a study that began in Berkeley in the 1920's with adolescents and college students.  These participants have been followed all their lives, and it has been found that those who made helping others a major motive in their lives tended  - over the entire course of fifty years and beyond - to be happier, shielded from depression, and healthier.

Another example of the importance of being happy, mentioned in the same article, was a brain study in which research subjects were hooked up to a magnetic resonance device in a laboratory environment.  This device measured brain activity.  When the subjects had a list of charities put in front of them and checked a box next to the charity that interested them most, the mesolimbic pathway in the brain lit up.  That's the deep emotional part of the brain that puts out good chemicals like serotonin.

So, the findings in these two examples says to me that when you are spending many, many hours on your business, it's extremely important that you're working on a business that you love - one that feeds your body, mind, spirit, and bank account...

If you're having challenges in this area, you may want to seek help from an outside source that is impartial and can give you first hand business building guidance.

Saying Goodbye to Bill Gates...

If you've listened to or read the news in the last couple of days, you've most likely heard about Bill Gates big exit from the Microsoft limelight.  He has been such a huge success story over the years, it's hard to imagine him moving on to greener pastures.  After all, what could be greener (money and otherwise!) than Microsoft.

What I found most interesting in the press I read about Mr. Gates wasn't his road to success, or his desire to spend all his time now doing charity work, it was his decision making process. 

As written by Jessica Mintz, AP Technology Writer, he disappears into his country cabin to study and analyze employee's written papers and ponder the future of his industry.  After spending time by himself, without outside influences, he then "emerged with manifestos, including the "Internet Tidal Wave" memo, that could shift the focus of the entire company.

What does this say to you about those of us who are too busy to take a vacation, much less take care of ourselves on a daily basis? 

I spend 15 - 30 minutes everyday in what I call "quiet time".  During this time I read inspirational books, meditate, and think about what I want in my life.  Over the years I have come to consider this a requirement of my ability to function at a healthy and creative level.  But there comes a time when this isn't enough.  I need to get away and regroup.  Vacations and rest and refresh time is not a luxury - it's a necessity.

What do you do to recharge your batteries, so you can live life to the fullest? 

What does business success look like to you?

If you're like I was when I was starting out in business, I had a nagging feeling that I needed to go back to school to get more "credibility" with my clients so I could "make more money".  Well, an article I read recently just blew that mis-leading idea out the window...

Country star Gretchen Wilson just recently passed her General Education Development exam.  She left school in the 9th grade... 

Gretchen is a Grammy award winning singer/songwriter and author.  Her first single Redneck Woman, spent five weeks at the top of the Billboard country chart.  This says to me that when you have a gift to give to the world, it will be rewarded - even if you don't have a BA, MBA, or even a high school diploma!

So, keep reaching down deep inside of you and find out what your gifts are, the ones you do naturally, and that you love to do.  You know the ones I'm talking about, don't you?  Those are the ones we all need to hear, see, read, or experience.  Those are the ones you need to express in and through your business that will make it a booming success.

Do you know what yours are? 

Sandy's Podcast Interview for Get Client's Now!

Download sandyreed-getclients-1.mp3

Show Me the Money! 3 Tips to Visualizing Success

“When you visualize then you materialize.”

-         Dr. Denis Waitley

Bill Gates, Jack Canfield, Robert Allen – what do they have in common?  You’ve probably guessed it – they’re all rich and successful!  So, what’s the secret to their success?  My guess is they all “see” themselves as successful.  How do you see yourself?

The quote above, by Dr. Denis Waitley, describes the process to materialize success.  It’s short and to the point – but for most of us, it’s not easy.  In fact, there are many who would adamantly declare that visualization is a waste of time. 

In the best seller “The Secret”, Dr. Waitley describes the visualization process used in the Apollo program.  He used this process, called Visual Motor Rehearsal, in Olympic training.   Here’s a quick overview of Visual Motor Rehearsal.