Who is in YOUR Support Tribe?

Fairy Godmother Laura West shares the following insights:

Have you heard the saying, “You are as successful as the 5 people closest to you?” Many business owners wonder why they aren’t more financially successful or are having a tough time keeping a positive mindset when it comes to growing their business. Ask yourself, Do you have the right “Support Tribe” to champion you and your vision? If not, it’s no wonder you are frustrated or feeling alone with your dreams and business vision.

In order to flourish with ease, grace and fun ..and a whole lot quicker…you need to have “Support Tribes” in several areas:

• Positive mindset
• Lifestyle
• Business
• Money & wealth

Notice those people closest to you in your business and among your family and friends. Do they support a positive and creative mindset? I hear from creative entrepreneurs, especially women business owners, that those closest to them don’t always support their view on life. It can be very frustrating and even depressing if you are focused on possibilities and creating a positive impact on the world through your business and those around you are coming from scarcity and dash your dreams! In the first couple of years in my business my dad consistently asked me every time he saw me, “Are you making any money yet”? No questions about my marketing strategies, my systems, my teams, or how the creation of my new product was coming along. He just focused on the money because that is what he knew to ask…and he didn’t realize that comes after you get some of the other pieces in place.

I am asked frequently – “do I have to ditch my friends and family? That’s not what I want to do!” Of course not. What you want to do is put your focus on what you want more of…people who are supporting your dreams and looking at the world from a “yes” perspective! You will start to attract more of them into your life. And, remember you don’t have to share your most sacred dreams with those who may not understand and be able to support them – that’s why you consciously want to attract a positive Support Tribe.

What about a Support Tribe for your lifestyle choices and values? Who are those 5 closest people who you share your lifestyle with? This is about who you are being in your life and what you are doing with your time. Have you grown out of some of your friends? Maybe as you’ve grown, matured, or your life has changed you no longer want to live your life like you used to and want to make some changes. It could be anything from how you spend your time, wanting to party less or “partying” looks different than 10 years ago, wanting to travel more often, the way you choose to raise your children, or it could be making healthy choices. You want people to support you in those choices and not pull you back into your “old ways” of living. Again, this isn’t about judging others…it’s about being conscious of who is around you impacting your energy and dreams.

Who is in your circle of business girlfriends? (or guy friends) I find I rely heavily on my close business girlfriends to talk over marketing strategies, building a team, making decisions and most of all, I need their support as I step into my vision in a bigger, and more visible way. Not many people at the bus stop or the gym might understand this, so you want to look for a mastermind group or a community of like-minded entrepreneurs who understand how exciting it is when you make a big sale or get a big client and they get what it means to put your first video on YouTube! They will celebrate with you and be there to help you move to the next level. So much more is possible with business girlfriends who get you!

Next, look at your Money & Wealth Support Tribe. Among the 5 people closest to you – do you ever talk about money? Is it from an abundance perspective or is it with an edge of scarcity and the sky is always getting ready to fall? If you have hit a ceiling in your financial growth in your business then you need to purposely surround yourself with people who will help you grow in the areas of abundance, success mindset, and tangible business strategies and revenue models. This is one of the biggest areas that most women entrepreneurs lack – any real conversation about money, sales, revenue and profit. If you aren’t having these conversations regularly and openly then it’s time to find a community where you can and do! It will do more to open your mind, shift your intentions and support inspired actions that will directly impact your bottom line.

One last note, your Support Tribes are not just about what you get from them. The circle of life is about “giving and receiving.” The most supportive and powerful tribes are those where you can give freely and without attachment and you are expected to receive. You need the flow of both energies to really have a tribe that is sustainable and successful. If one person is always giving and never receiving then it makes the energy & flow of the tribe unbalanced and it will fall apart soon. And vice versa…

Now, what are you noticing in your life and business as far as your Support Tribes? What type of supportive tribe member would you like to attract? Write down one intention for who you want to attract and in what area. Then note what would be possible for you – what would be different. Notice who comes into your life!

Laura West, Center for Joyful Business, Laura West is a certified professional coach, writer, speaker and the President and Chief Creative Officer of The Center for Joyful Business. She is the creator of the Joyful Business Guide, a business attraction system blending law of attraction principles with smart business designed for solo-entrepreneurs and business owners. Laura is also a contributing author to the book, Spirit of Women Entrepreneurs, and has been a contributing writer for Motto magazine, Inside Gwinnett newspaper, and Connections, a publication for image consultants. Laura also publishes an award winning blog, Cafe Entrepreneur, and a bi-monthly ezine, Joyful Business.

How to Create a Sales Page – Powerfully, Easily and Authentically

Fairy Godmother Laura West of Center for Joyful Business shares the following sales tips:

Sales page creation is both an art and a science. It can be very creative and artistic, and at the same time, there is a science to getting people to make purchases online. With an online sales page, you really are presenting a story.

Your page should be visually interesting. Not so interesting that potential clients are confused and there’s too much to digest or look at. But appealing enough that they feel they know you. That they would love to go to coffee with you and pick your brain. Since they can’t do that, they’ll do the next best thing… buy your product, program or service.

So, how do you create a sales page that presents your story and connects you to your future buyers?

#1 Connect to your joy and align your energy for creative flow. It’s so much harder to write from a standstill or when you are staring at a blank page. You want to tap into inspiration, creativity and flow… even when you are getting ready to write something serious and practical like a sales page. However, you can “cheat” and get yourself into the flow!

First of all, it’s highly unusual to sit down and create an entire sales page at one time. So, relax. When you relax, you open your mind, body, spirit and cells to more creativity, more ideas and more inspiration.

A Business Goddess opens her mind, her heart and her spirit, even when or especially when it comes to something as practical-minded as writing and creating sales pages.

#2 Get clear about who you are writing to. Who is your ideal client for this sales page?

This is one of the biggest secrets for being able to create a sales page that really connects and is engaging and compelling. Hopefully, you’re clear on who your ideal client is in general, but you may have to narrow that down for the specific program, product, or service you’re creating your sales page for.

#3 Start noting ideas for your sales page. A sales page has different sections (the science piece of a sales page). Think about what you want to say in each section. Make notes about the first things, ideas and inspirations that come up for you. Keep your focus on one product or service for your sales page and on one ideal client

#4 Gather other items for your sales page. Start gathering the other items you’ll need for your sales page: photos, clip art, graphics, etc.

#5 Write your first rough draft Start putting everything together in a Word document. Take your notes and let yourself write a rough draft. It doesn’t have to be perfect; in fact, it won’t be. Let it be messy. Just get it flowing. If a section feels too hard or you can’t think of what to write, just make notes. You don’t have to create a sales page in order. Much of the time, you’ll get clearer once you have created the easy stuff like listing the product details and bonuses.

#6 Fill in specific holes and items that are missing Now you come back and fill in the holes. Which pieces do you need more information on? Where can you find it? Who can you ask?

#7 Create sales page online or send it to a team member Now it’s time to put your sales page online. You can do this yourself or work with someone who knows how to do this easily like a web master or virtual assistant.

#8 Revise and edit Once you see it up online, then you’ll want to revise it again. Make sure it flows, and tighten up words and phrases. Check that you are inviting your specific ideal client and coming from a confident place vs. a desperate place.

• Determine what’s missing.
• Is it compelling?
• Will they want to buy NOW?
• What is the ONE action that it’s obvious you want them to do?

#9 Have a fresh set of eyes review Have someone review the page for typos and necessary edits. After you’ve worked on this for so long, it will be hard to spot those. Ideally, have someone who successfully markets online review it as well. It might be your virtual assistant, a colleague or your business coach. Proofread. Test your links. (Always test all links!)

#10 Test and tweak Time to let her go! Your sales page is ready to be seen by your list. Pay attention to comments, feedback and results. One of the great things about marketing online is that you can change headlines and copy in a flash!

#11 Keep updating and make it fresh You are going to want to make sure your page stays up to date. You don’t want a year to go by, and then people see your page and think you aren’t very professional or committed. You’ll also be getting new results and new feedback about your product or program, so you’ll want to tweak your page to keep it compelling.

Once you have a system (again, that science piece), you’ll be able to tap into the creative, artistic side of designing a sales page, one that allows you to bring your brilliance out into the world. You’re not just selling something; you’re making the world a better place with your product, program or service. Remember that as you create your sales page from that place.

Laura West is an award-winning entrepreneur, and president and founder of the Center for Joyful Business. As a certified business coach, author and speaker, she helps thousands of women entrepreneurs create successful businesses filled with passion, purpose and prosperity. She is known for making marketing simple and fun for passion-based business owners. She is also the author and creator of Joyful Business Guide™ Home Study System, and she is author of the upcoming book, Awakening Your Inner Business Goddess. She is also the Fresh Entrepreneur Expert atLadies Who Launch.com and creator of their Fresh Entrepreneur workshop and workbook program.

If you are interested in having Ms. West speak for your organization, membership club, teleseminar, or Internet radio show, please contact her Media and Marketing Manager, Dawn Goldberg, at dawn@joyfulbusiness.com. For more media information, please visit:www.centerforjoyfulbusiness.com/media.html.

6 Ways to Package Your Services, Products and Knowledge so You Make More Money in Less Time

Fairy Godmother Laura West of Center for Joyful Business shares the following:

One of the most important intentions in your business, even in passion-based business like yours, is to make a profit. Yes, you want to make money while making the world a better place by contributing your magical gifts. In order to keep contributing and changing the world in your unique way through helping your clients, you need to also be financially successful. This is part of the holistic model of success.

The secret is to look at how you can bring your creativity into your pricing and services so that you make more money and give more value with out taking so much of your time that it starts to drain your energy. You want to look for energy-enhancing business models!

I recently had a new Platinum client who was resisting this idea. She loves her clients and didn’t want to become so expensive for her clients that she was no longer accessible to them. The thing is she also told me how she is running all over town delivering her services. An hour there, 45 minutes there and she’s booked up solid. Sounds great until you get inside and realize that all this running around is taking a toll on her physically – her energy is way down (which impacts her enthusiasm, confidence and creativity) and physical symptoms were screaming at her to “pay attention.”

Don’t wait until your body rebels! There are ways of serving a variety of client needs while serving your need to develop a financially sustainable and flourishing business – all without depleting yourself physically, spiritually and energetically.

Here are six ways to create packages for your services, products, experience and knowledge so that you can joyfully serve more clients in less time and make more money doing it!

Strategy #1: Offer Options with Your Time

The idea here is to offer three ways a client can work with you – a small investment option, medium option, and top of the line option. Clients love choice. If you tell them that you have one price or one package, they will often not take it because the question becomes “Do you want this service? Yes or No?” With three options, the clients have a choice. The question becomes “Which one would you like?” This is a totally different question which will lead you to more clients. You’ll also be surprised at how many people will take the top of the line or premium option. This is a great way of stretching into new pricing options that might have been higher than you were used to charging.

Strategy #2: Package Your Process

Potential clients like to know that you have a process. It helps them to know what to expect from you so they can get their arms around the commitment. Most of all, it gives them confidence in you. When you share that you have a process, they trust that you know what you are doing. Funny thing is…they don’t really care about what your process is – they really care about the results for them. They just want to know that you have a system for what they are going through. For example, you may offer a six-hour package where you take them through five steps that will change their life or business. Or you may have a 90-day program or a four-week series. When you package your process, you will get more and better results from your clients as well. It creates a win-win. Your clients get more value and better results – and you get clients with amazing results – which feels great!

Strategy #3: Create Products From Your Process

Have you determined your five-step process? Now is a great time to put it into a workbook, an e-course or create an audio series. Some people may want to just buy the product and apply the principles or tools themselves. You’ll be surprised by how many people will buy the product and still want your help in taking them through the work. They need the accountability and partnership for success!

Strategy #4 Create A Membership Program

You attract people to your services who are at different places in their buying process. Many people want just a taste of what you have to offer. Maybe they are new business owners and aren’t quite ready to invest in an entire coaching package with you, or they are just new to your services and want to experience more before they invest in a full program. Offering a membership program is a way of creating a community of these similar clients and giving them a taste of what you offer. You’ve seen examples of free membership clubs like Starbucks, an Amazon Prime Account, or airline frequent flyer mileage programs. Then there’s the small fee membership club that for $24, $47 or $97 a month they can join your membership club and get access to certain services. For example, you could offer a group teleseminar and then mail the audio CD and transcript to them each month. It’s a great way to get them in a relationship with you and usually once people experience your magic – they are going to want to upgrade and they’ll want more from you.

Strategy #5: Offer a Continuity Program

A continuity program is typically a long-term relationship where clients consistently get to work with you in a variety of ways. It’s often offered over a year. You can package together products, ebooks, audios, teleclasses, transcripts, online forums and even in person retreats to create a program throughout the year. For an example of one of my past continuity programs, visit www.joyfulbusiness.com/ammmp Review the program for ideas on how you can design your own program. I’m not just trying to get you to my information page, (wink) I’m offering up my program as a model or template for what you could create for your own continuity program. Remember – don’t copy anyone’s program exactly, and you can use other programs as a springboard to design your own unique offering.

Strategy #6: Premium Programs or Platinum Style Programs

Look around you and you’ll start to notice how often the word “Platinum” shows up to describe an upscale or premium offering. Delta Airlines and their Platinum program comes to mind for mega flyers. A premium or platinum style program is ideal when you are ready to scale back your hourly work and create a premium program (with a premium price tag) for more one-on-one work, special retreats, or small group coaching. There are some of your clients who are ready for this type of intense work. The greatest reward is that the type of clients who come into this program are usually very committed to their success. Again, it’s creating a win-win program. They get flourish with big results, and you see the impact of your work! Every time a client commits to this type of program with me, just the power of this big commitment within themselves creates a jump in their business, new clients, a big PR opportunity or other major success.

What ideas has this article sparked in you for your business? Pay attention to your inspired energy. That’s where you want to start. Don’t try to do all these ideas at one time. Pick one idea and focus on it for the next 90 days. Clear, focused energy is powerful creation energy!

Laura West is an award-winning entrepreneur, and president and founder of the Center for Joyful Business. As a certified business coach, author and speaker, she helps thousands of women entrepreneurs create successful businesses filled with passion, purpose and prosperity. She is known for making marketing simple and fun for passion-based business owners. She is also the author and creator of Joyful Business Guide™ Home Study System, and she is author of the upcoming book, Awakening Your Inner Business Goddess. She is also the Fresh Entrepreneur Expert at Ladies Who Launch.com and creator of their Fresh Entrepreneur workshop and workbook program.

14 Strategies for What To Post on Your Blog

One of the greatest tools on the internet is to have a blog focused on your business movement – the thing you are most passionate about in your business. It’s a great way to establish credibility, visibility and your expertise in a particular area.

My clients often get excited about a blog and get it up and going and then ask, “Now what do I post?”

If you’re still a little stuck, here’s an easy checklist to keep handy:

• Long, thoughtful, provoking and inspiring articles – every now and then. You don’t want to overwhelm your blog followers with three or four blog posts a week that span several screen lengths. But once in a blue moon – go for it!
• Short thoughtful, provoking, and inspiring articles – get the difference? You don’t have to write a novel. Just a paragraph or two.
• ”How-to’s” – 3 steps, 5 secrets, 3 tips types of articles. For example, three things you need to pack for a day-long hike. Or five must-haves in your make-up kit.
• Quotes – yours or others. You can just post the quotation, or you can explain why this particular quotation is particularly inspiring to you.
• Resources – this is where you share your favorite things: books, tools, other coaches/consultants/experts.
• Quick stories about something that happened to you that highlights a perspective you believe in
• Poems or songs about your movement that would be inspiring to your tribe
• Events you are offering/leading – yes, you can even post sales-type posts in your blog. (Which is really handy when you have your blog linked to social networks.)
• Stories about your clients – their shifts, aha’s, awarenesses, why they work with you, results, profiles. Stories show what you do, much better than you just telling what it is you do.
• Updates, feedback, buzz about events you are leading, such as “The top 3 questions I’m getting from women entrepreneurs who are thinking about coming to the Business Goddess Retreat”
• Stories, themes or trends you are seeing with your clients. This article is an example; all my SpiritRICH™ clients are asking what to post on a blog!
• Free checklists – you probably have all kinds of “get started quick” type of lists – use these as special blog postings to generate credibility and expertise
• Any events where you are appearing, being interviewed, telesummits, and the like. Let people see what you’re doing!
• Photos – photos – photos! They are inspiring! Of you, your surroundings, your clients, people you are with, you and your mentors.

For a robust blog which positions you as an expert in a certain area you’ll want to aim for 2 -3 postings a week and you’ll soon have a bevy of blog postings and your tribe and fans will notice!

Last tip for blog success: I ride the wave of energy and write several postings when I’m in a particularly reflective writing mood, which I can post-date and publish later. This allows you to write while you are in the writing mode and then spread your postings over several weeks.

Most of all, let out your authentic self – your readers want to know who you are and what you are about. Writing in your authentic voice allows you to really connect with your reader.

Laura West is an award-winning online entrepreneur and president of The Center for Joyful Business. If you are ready to shift your marketing and mindset for more success with joy and ease, get your free report: Business Attraction Success Kit

Does Everyone Love You, But They Don’t Buy From You?

Do you find that your readers, fans, friends, colleagues, audiences love you, and yet they aren’t buying from you? How frustrating!

It’s a common hurdle you face as a heart-centered business owner growing your business.

The good news is that you are getting their attention. You are getting feedback about your great content. You are connecting! Now, you need to work on confidently educating, inviting in, and being relevant with your offers.

Here are the 4 most commons traps why your people aren’t buying from you even though they love what you are up to:

1. Do they even know how to work with you?

This might seem like a silly question at first, but really I have to ask the obvious – Are you making offers and inviting people to work with you? I often see heart-centered entrepreneurs putting out lots of content, great resources (for other people), and yet they NEVER mention how their fans can work with them. These days it is all about building trust, rapport and relationships first… AND you also need to let them know how they can work with you.

Sometimes it’s just a simple education process. If you don’t tell them, then they don’t know that you have a product that will help them. They may not realize that you can work virtually over the phone and, therefore, you can work with clients all over the world. They may not have read through your entire website to know that you offer one-on-one coaching and consulting in addition to your programs.

Don’t assume your market knows what you offer and how they can work with you. You have to tell them – each and every time.

2. You are so joy-focused that you avoid the pain.

I hear from many heart-centered business owners, especially women, that they don’t want to talk about the negatives, and they don’t want to market from pain. They just want to focus on the positive and the possibilities. Hey, my whole business is wrapped in the virtue of joy, so I get it! And here’s what I have learned. Only talking about joy doesn’t work very well. You’ll be frustrated with very little success and, quite frankly, it isn’t really doing a service for your clients.

What if your doctor only came from a place of positive and possibilities? Imagine going to the doctor because your throat hurts, and you have a slight fever and a headache. You don’t know if it’s the flu, allergies, strep throat or something else. The doctor doesn’t focus on the negative or the pain. So, he just talks about the possibilities of you feeling vibrantly alive and recommends these fantastic vitamins! Wouldn’t you be appalled, angry, frustrated and maybe even want to turn him in for malpractice?

You have to talk about the symptoms and the pain so that you both can agree on what your client’s problem is. Then your potential clients know you understand them. Then you take them to the hope – the vision – the dream – and YOUR SOLUTION! (which is full of joy!)

3. You aren’t owning your excellence and expertise.

“Don’t brag! Don’t be too big for your britches!” And the one my parents used a lot: “You’re really full of yourself, aren’t you!” (with a tsk, tsk for added emphasis).

These words were meant to protect us when we were small, but now these are the very beliefs that will keep trigger shame and guilt and hold you back. These beliefs will keep your business small. You won’t help as many people if you market with these beliefs in mind. This is a tough place to be when you are an entrepreneur in a service profession where you need to promote yourself to get clients and make money.

It’s imperative to your success and your client’s potential transformation that you shift your beliefs to ones that are life enhancing and focused on business expansiveness. Your clients need you to own your excellence and expertise powerfully and confidently. When you do this, your confidence gives them confidence in you and your services. You can own your career experience, PhD, certification, success in a way that is authentic, in integrity and full of graceful power.

4. There is no reason to buy right now.

Once I was in a workshop with a famous author and psychic intuitive. It was a truly transformative weekend. There were probably 30 of us who were loving the experience and our new-found power. At the end of the workshop, she told us how we could work with her in various programs (yay – see #1), but then she said, “There’s no pressure; we’re here. Whenever you want, just contact us”.

Now I know she didn’t want to manipulate us or put pressure on us to buy now, but there is a better way. First, she could have given us the forms in our hands, and several of us would have gladly signed up because she would have made it easy. She could have given us an incentive or bonus to sign up, and she would have saved marketing time and effort because we’d gladly sign up now. Since there was no reason to buy now – I didn’t. I meant to do it when I got home, and, well, now it’s a year later and I haven’t gotten around to it.

We both missed out.

The same is true when you offer a product or service online. If it’s always available, then why should they buy from you right now? They’ll do it… someday. Hopefully, you won’t be out of business by then.

Looking at these four areas ask yourself, “If I were being a courageous, committed business owner, what would I step into boldly.”

You’ll amazed at how little steps into these important areas will bring new clients, income and opportunities – which means you are making a bigger difference in the world!

Laura West is a certified professional coach, writer, speaker and the President and Chief Creative Officer of The Center for Joyful Business. She is the creator of the Joyful Business Guide, a business attraction system blending law of attraction principles with smart business designed for solo-entrepreneurs and business owners.

Business Goddess Marketing Tips 1-7

Fairy Godmother Laura West, President of Center of Joyful Business is sharing 7 fabulous Business Goddess Marketing Tips with you. Click on the links below to listen as Laura helps you find the inner Business Goddess within you. Enjoy!

Business Goddess Marketing Tip #1: Tapping Into Your Business Goddess

To listen now, visit  http://www.joyfulbusiness.com/audiotip/tip1.html

Business Goddess Marketing Tip #2: Business Plateau Woes

To listen now, visit http://www.joyfulbusiness.com/audiotip/tip2.html

Business Goddess Marketing Tip #3: What Is It Going to Take for You to Be a Highly Sought After Expert?

To listen now, visit http://www.joyfulbusiness.com/audiotip/tip3.html

Business Goddess Marketing Tip #4: How To Really Attract Clients Who Want to Work With You

To listen now, visit http://www.joyfulbusiness.com/audiotip/tip4.html

Business Goddess Marketing Tip #5: Are You Sure Your Clients Know How They Can Work With You?

To listen now, visit http://www.joyfulbusiness.com/audiotip/tip5.html

Business Goddess Marketing Tip #6 Systems = Freedom

To listen now, visit http://www.joyfulbusiness.com/audiotip/tip6.html

Business Goddess Marketing Tip #7: Women Don’t Flourish Alone

To listen now, visit http://www.joyfulbusiness.com/audiotip/tip7.html

Practical Strategies for Shifting the “I’m Not Enough” Gremlin

Fairy Godmother Laura West writes: It happens to all of us small business owners. Things are hopping along in our businesses: we are growing our lists, increasing our visibility and attracting new clients, and then suddenly… BAM! The gremlin inside you starts whispering sweet nothings, accompanied by a dull ache in your stomach or a tightening of your throat.

“You’re not really doing it right.” “What you’re doing isn’t enough…it’s not good enough, big enough, powerful enough or thorough enough.” “What are you thinking? Do you really know what you are doing?” and the “See what she’s doing…you’re just not doing it right/fast enough/making enough money”….

What starts out as a quiet question suddenly moves to a slow simmer, and then if not kept in check, it’ll rise to a full boil! The voice impacts our sleep, our creativity, our confidence, our ability to think clearly, and our willingness to take action. It’s usually thoughts running rampant through our minds, but it’s also accompanied by a variety of signals from our bodies: headaches, the inability to stay awake at our computer in the afternoon, upset stomachs, constriction in our throats, shallow breathing. And if not paid attention to, then it’ll go into the form of a cold, a sinus infection or some other physical symptom which finds a toe-hold in our bodies.

Everyone, business owner or not, has some versions of this destructive self-talk. From working with 1000’s of creative, heart-centered entrepreneurs, I know that we are often even more susceptible to this. We’re sensitive to the energy around us, we’re thoughtful and respectful of others, and we are often feelers. For passion-based business owners who want to transform lives, it’s important to acknowledge this mindset dance.

It’s even more critical to your success and business growth that you know how to deal with this common business ailment –before it gets out of control. Here are my seven favorite tools for creating awareness and shifting your energy quickly:

1. Morning and Evening Journaling – This doesn’t have to involve pages of witty writing. A simple list of what’s happening and how you feel will do. This reminds you to check in with your mindset, thoughts and emotions. Creating awareness of what’s going on for you twice a day will reinforce the importance of checking in with yourself. The awareness alone will create shifts in your energy and ability to shift into a more life-enhancing place if you need to. I journal every day (especially at Creative Bagel Time), and I find these journaling pages can be especially helpful reference tools for a check-in and attitude adjustment in the future.

2. Conscious Breathing – Whenever you notice that you feel anxious and the gremlin is having a chat party inside, just the simple act of breathing consciously can help shift your energy. Consciously and in a relaxed way (not forced) — breathe in to receive, and breathe out to release. I do this with my clients quite often at the beginning of a teleclass to help them get present and be in our virtual space together.

3. Exercise – Ask your body what it really needs. My body needs exercise, stretching and movement every day. Just moving your body will move your energy and get you out of your mind and back into your body so you can access all of you – not just your relentless analytic side. 

4. Guided Visualizations – I find sitting in quiet meditation difficult, so I’m a big fan of guided visualizations. I have all different types loaded on my iPod. I will often take a break in the middle of the afternoon and listen to my angels, take a guided imagery walk to my favorite peaceful location, or just relax listening to positive affirmations about my body. It’s enough to shift my energy and reconnect to my creativity and that possibility-energy.

5. Nap – Sometimes, especially when I’m going through a big growth phase in my business, I find I need more sleep. I’ll get sleepy in the afternoon, and my gremlin goes crazy with the thoughts that I’m procrastinating, and I need to do more, and…. And I’ve learned to trust that I often just need a 15- or 30-minute nap to recharge. It’s like my body needs to keep up with my new expanded sense of self.

6. Business Girlfriends – Science says that women connecting to other women releases oxytocin. This feels good! Know which business girlfriends you can give a “911-call” who will let you share your gremlin thoughts. You’ll feel good releasing, you get great chemicals to support a feel-good mood, and your friend will let you know how fabulous you really are. A true win-win. Just make sure it’s a supportive friend who understands you, and you can reciprocate!

7. What Would Your Business Goddess Say? This is one of my favorite exercises for women entrepreneurs. We don’t often relate to being the CEO of our business, but we can step into the identity of a Business Goddess – even if just for a moment. When you look at your business, project, or situation from the place of being a business Goddess – suddenly your perspective will shift and new ideas, new opportunities or new ways of looking at it will emerge.
Keep these Energy-Shifting and Gremlin-Busting strategies posted in your office so you can quickly refer to it and shift back into your graceful powerful and creative self!

Laura West, Center for Joyful Business, Laura West is a certified professional coach, writer, speaker and the President and Chief Creative Officer of The Center for Joyful Business. She is the creator of the Joyful Business Guide, a business attraction system blending law of attraction principles with smart business designed for solo-entrepreneurs and business owners. Laura is also a contributing author to the book, Spirit of Women Entrepreneurs, and has been a contributing writer for Motto magazine, Inside Gwinnett newspaper, and Connections, a publication for image consultants. Laura also publishes an award winning blog, Cafe Entrepreneur, and a bi-monthly ezine, Joyful Business.

6 Ways to Make More Money While Changing Lives In A Bigger Way

As a passionate entrepreneur, I know you want to get your work out into the world in a bigger way. You also want to make great money so you can reinvest and keep growing your business to reach more people and, of course, to support a life and family you love.

To move into “growth mode” in your business, it’s important to start looking at what you will do differently. If you want to make more money – you can’t just work more hours and do more of the same. There’s a limit to how many hours in the day your energy will support.

Even when your intention is to make more money, it’s not just about the money. (I keep getting reminded of Cuba Gooding Jr.’s line in Jerry Maguire – “Show me the money!”) It’s also about your passion. Of course, you don’t want to work hour after hour just for the money. You want your work to be an expression of your deepest self; you want to inspire others and change their lives while adding to your own full joy – which includes making great money to support your life!

By shifting from hourly services to creating packages and programs for your clients, you will be able to serve them in a bigger way by including experiences, products, knowledge and inspiration in whole new ways – that they will be willing to pay for!

Here are six ways to shift from hourly services to leveraging your time, knowledge, and expertise into bigger money making programs – which, by the way, will change your clients’ lives in an even bigger way than when they came to you for a few hours at a time.

1. Create Packages of Your Time – This is the first step in moving from an hourly consulting or coaching business model. You create package options that bundle your time into bigger commitments. Of course, you know that you’ll get better results when you have the opportunity to work with a client over time. It takes time to apply new strategies, concepts or advice. If you’re a coach, imagine moving from charging $400 a month to offering 6-month and 12-month packages. You’ll attract clients who are more committed and, therefore, will experience even greater results in working with you. They’re playing bigger, which means their results are bigger. It’s truly a win-win for all.

2. VIP Day – Some potential clients want to get it all done at one time. They don’t want to learn what you have to share with them over time – they want a more intense or immersive experience. A VIP Day is an opportunity to work with a client for an entire day. This builds up momentum and focus. You will be amazed at how much they will accomplish when you have a big chunk of time dedicated to their success. Depending on your industry and experience, you can add VIP Days from $1,000 to $25,000 a day. Just one VIP Day experience each month can substantially add to your revenue for the year.

3. Virtual Retreat – This is a great program for those who prefer not to travel, either because of the effort or the expense, or maybe they have family responsibilities, which would make taking time away to travel more of a burden. You can offer a 3-to-5-hour intensive meeting over the phone where you focus exclusively on them. You’ll take breaks along the way and send them off to do work and come back and check in. This is an easy way to pump up your revenue, and to offer a powerful and impactful program with very little expense on your part. You can also add a webinar, or webcam to make this even more robust. I have a Platinum client who is an image consultant, and she uses the web cam to have clients scan pictures in their virtual consultation.

4. Strategy Sessions – Often when you start your service-type businesses, you offer free consultations. As you get experience, you can then offer hour-long strategy sessions on a specific topic. These are highly leveraged, hour-focused sessions where you give tremendous value, and your clients get to experience what it’s like to work with you. As an example, I offer a $597 Intuitive Business Consultation. It’s fast-paced, intensely concentrated time on a particular marketing strategy or business issue. I even record it, which is helpful since we focus and get on a brainstorm roll. They can always come back to the audio.

The idea behind the strategy session is that clients will then see their ideas come to life, get an experience of working with you, and will feel ready to commit to a bigger package with you. This session isn’t a sales session though – it’s very valuable on its own. It’s ver y compelling and they are sure to want more!

5. Group Platinum Program – “Platinum” has a distinction of meaning high quality, premium, and special. With a Platinum Program, you put together a menu of products, experiences, coaching, and training to create a valuable supportive and transformative experience. Platinum clients may get individual time with you, along with valuable masterminding from the highly select members of the group. A group program like this is leveraged on your time – meaning you can serve more people in less time.

You don’t have to deliver all the information or coaching in this type of program. You just happen to be the one who pulls together all the support they need: products from other experts, additional audios or training programs you’ve created on specific topics, retreat time away from their office to focus on their life or business, and even providing time with other experts. As an example, one of my platinum group programs includes time with an image consultant because my clients are stepping into bigger visibility and credibility, which requires more confidence inside and out. They love that I have found an expert in this area whom they can automatically trust and who understands their businesses. They trust me to recommend the best, and it saves them time and frustration.

6. Private Platinum Program – A certain number of your clients want a premium experience with you. Creating a Platinum Program for individuals is powerful for the client because you put together the ultimate experience for what they need to be successful in their businesses or lives.

This can include private time with you where your client flies in for a custom-created retreat, or you may meet at a spa, golf location or my favorite – an oceanfront resort hotel.

These programs can easily add tens of thousands or even six-figures to your business. They also attract higher quality and more committed clients. This means they get better results, and so do you!

And don’t forget… you’re helping your clients step into their bigger selves, at the same time as are you. You’re helping them bring their full gifts to the world, which is what your passionate business is all about.

Which program strategy will you choose to step into first? What do you need to know or do? Who do you need to be to put this program out to your list of fans? What support do you need to make this transition of stepping into “growth mode” in your business easier?

What will you do differently next year?

Laura West is an award-winning online entrepreneur and president of The Center for Joyful Business. If you are ready to shift your marketing and mindset for more success with joy and ease, get your free report: Business Attraction Success Kit

How to Get Your Marketing Mojo Working for You

Having worked with thousands of creative women entrepreneurs over the years, I see the common trend: you fall into the “safe marketing” place. Doing what everyone else is doing, using the same descriptor words, offering the same types of products and programs…and then wondering why your marketing efforts aren’t paying off with client interest and joint venture opportunities.

Turn your marketing around with these three Marketing Mojo perspectives.

1. What is your Movement? People don’t want to be marketed “to” or “at” anymore. Their days are too busy – they want to be moved. They want stories, passions, reasons to take action. They want hope and solutions presented to them that will change their routines and better their worlds in some way – whether it’s because they’ll change their habits, they’ll heal, they’ll laugh, they’ll be entertained, or they’ll achieve their dreams.

You have to step into your confidence about your passion and create more than a marketing strategy. Create marketing that moves people. They want to work with you or make a purchase from you because they are so engaged, your message is so compelling. They will read your ad or sales page, and they won’t be able to stop thinking about it – or talking about it.

Your movement comes from your own passion – either what has brought you pain or what brings you joy. A mother on my tennis team couldn’t find bottles and sippy cups that were “plastic safe,” so she created them herself. She is passionate about it, knowing that other moms are looking for these too. She is daring to put her passion into a product and sharing it with others too.

2. Give Them A Reason To Care. The world has changed and is continuing to move fast. In our information-drenched world, you have to capture your potential customers’ attention and give them a reason to read what you’ve written, to listen to your teleclass (one of hundreds that is sitting in their inbox) or your pre-recorded audio (where they had good intentions when they signed up, but now they’ve forgotten why they want to take the time to listen – not to mention it’s gotten buried down the list of emails in their inbox), or take the time to watch yet another video on YouTube.

The world wants to hear messages that resonate with authenticity and integrity. Dare to step up and speak your truth about your passionate area of expertise and call people forward to take action on what really matters to them.

3. Find Your Authentic Marketing Style. Let’s face it, not every one is cut out to be Oprah. Having a successful business isn’t about being someone else. The real secret is to know yourself and use that for maximum impact in your marketing. If you are an amazing writer, then ezines and blogging are perfect for you. If you have a great voice, then try audios, an Internet radio show, or a podcast to get your movement out into the world. If you look appealing on camera and communicate well visually, then let your message loose in video. Don’t try to do what doesn’t come naturally to you…lean into your Authentic Marketing Style. People will love it! When they love it, they’ll pay attention. They’ll be moved to share it. And they’ll be moved to buy what you are offering.

Your Work:

Dare to let loose your passion. Create a movement. Go deep. Be truthful. Speak from your heart. Focus on the marketing vehicle that feels right to you and do it well…so well that people talk about it!

Enjoy,

Laura

Laura West is an award-winning online entrepreneur and president of The Center for Joyful Business.

Allow More Success – Pay Attention to Your 5 Energies

As your business grows and you experience more success it becomes increasingly important to pay attention to your 5 Types of Energy to maintain the growth and also to enjoy the journey. Your energy is Read more

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