How to Keep Your Marriage Strong while Running a Small Business
May 4, 2008
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If you are in business for yourself chances are good that you enjoy what you do, at least we hope that you do because after all, you got yourself into it. If you are married, Read more
Finding Courage When You Want to Hide
April 29, 2008
When was the last time you wanted to hide? Well, for me, it’s been the last few days.. Read more
Motherhood & Business: You’re More Prepared than You Might Think!
April 9, 2008
Staying home and taking care of the kids is a tough job, but for many families it is also tough on the finances. For others who can perhaps afford to stay home, Read more
Mentoring from God, Fitness Training, and More
March 24, 2008
Mentoring from God
On Wednesday I was privileged to speak to a conference of women at church about Charity- the Pure Love of Christ specifically about being a true follower of Christ. It is very humbling for me to speak about such intense and sacred topics and I appreciated the opportunity to study, prepare and deliver the message. I felt guided and mentored by heaven in the process and it increased my desire and hunger to include God more fully in my daily life and efforts in all I do. Read more
How to Avoid the Perfect Princess Syndrome
March 18, 2008
Today’s Magical Wisdom provided by Startup Princess, Liz Pabon, The Branding Maven and 
author of just released book, The MavHERick Mind , be sure to read the details of her special offer for March benefiting eWomen Network and Women for Hire foundations at the bottom of the post. Check out the great book design too, I enjoyed reading it the other day while taking a long bath!
Recently, while discussing the power of the mind as the strongest muscle and success tool we possess as women in business, the topic of perfectionism reared its ugly head.
Has this ever happened to you?
You launch your business and are about to execute a new marketing campaign, attend a networking event for the first time or try a new way to communicate your brand message but the fear of not having everything “perfect” stops you cold.
There’s no question you have the best of intentions. After all, the better your “stuff” the more powerful your results–right?
Well, not exactly but that’s a topic for another post 
What’s important about what I’ve termed the “Perfect Princess Syndrome” is a distinction many Startup Princesses and entrepreneurial Queens forget–the difference between perfection and excellence.
You see excellence is in your control. It is the way you set and re-set the standards you live by as an entrepreneurial woman. In essence, it is the rulebook you live by and honor.
We forget that as entrepreneurs, we have the freedom to create and design our business and lifestyle. Yet, so many get caught up in the “perfect” elevator pitch or “perfect” flyer that you defeat yourself before you ever get started!
What does perfect mean anyway?
It is merely a standard that someone else has decided on and you chose to run your business (or life) by that standard. In other words, it is not a standard you set it is one set for you. It’s no wonder so many entrepreneurial women want to throw in the towel!
In the battle for success, you have three very powerful allies to rely on: Courage, Discipline and Excellence. It’s excellence that empowers you to do your best and push the limits of your potential in your time, and on your terms.
I feel empowered just typing that–how about you?
And that part of you that is independent, spirited and has the courage to march to the beat of your own drum is the MavHERick™ that lives inside you.
Look around you Startup Princess and identify where you’ve fallen short in your business not because you aren’t destined for greatness, but because you have been trying to live up to an ideal you never bought into.
The best part about choosing excellence over perfection is that it’s within your control–no special permits to register for, no special skills required, no permission necessary.
Every Startup Princess will one day take the throne as entrepreneurial Queen. On your journey towards royal graduation, call on your allies to support you and along the way, create and then break your own record!
I’ve coined March MavHERick™ Magic Marathon month. With each purchase of my book, The MavHERick Mind: How to Win the Battle for Success by Using What You’ve Got to Get What You Want, I will donate proceeds to the eWomen Network and Women for Hire foundations.
Your support of this cause will help empower women from all walks of life remember two things: 1) they already possess the greatest power of all–the power of choice and 2) they are not alone!
Liz Pabon is an award-winning publisher and author. To support her MavHERick™ Magic Marathon movement, visit her at www.MavHERickMind.com.
©Copyright 2008, Liz Pabon. All rights reserved.
Triumphs and Failures on the Pageant Journey
March 16, 2008
Here we are again, another crazy-busy week (for all, I’m sure!) If you saw my kids’ playroom and bedrooms yesterday you’d wonder where their mother’s been…
This week was a full week, not only for me with Startup Princess events and pageant prep but with my son’s school play, Willy Wonka where he’s one of the 110 Oompa Loompas! School plays=long rehearsals and in the charter school where we go, it also means lots of volunteer hours. I was make up girl this week… lots of red cheeks, red lips, eye liner, and making sure kids behaved backstage, etc. It has been a fun and rewarding experience for everyone.
Looking back at the week I can see where I succeeded and well, failed. It’s time to re-evaluate things and plan on a better week! Read more
How to Achieve Your Childhood Dreams
February 18, 2008
Today’s Magic Wand: Fairy Godmother Cherie Burton, just sent this video clip from Oprah featuring Randy Pausch (Fall 2007) who is dying of pancreatic cancer, he was a professor at Carnegie Mellon University and gave an inspiring lecture about life to his students that they asked him to repeat on Oprah. It’s incredibly inspiring and Randy’s message matches our Startup Princess theme Make a Wish, Make it Happen…you’ll love this 11 minute clip. As an update, Randy’s life has been extended and here’s Randy Pausch’s medical blog updates, no doubt his upbeat attitude and courage has given his body much strength over the last several months.
After you watch it, please share your thoughts… comments… we’d love to hear how this message has touched you.
Getting Things Done: Where Does YOUR Motivation Come From?
January 28, 2008
This is my third post on Getting Things Done…the others are here and here.
Right now I’m delaying today’s major task and necessary evil: stacks of papers. Why? Because blogging is more fun and papers aren’t. Besides-it’s slightly chilly in my basement and I’m enjoying being cozy under a blanket while I type. Ha! Plus, papers don’t talk back, blog posts sometimes do. Likely no one but me will read my papers (fortunately), but at least 1500 readers will read this post today. So, how do I go from here to there? How do I get my Royal fanny off this chair and into the thick of “Getting Things Done” so I can help all my papers find a home? I know the answers already, but doing them is a different story!
Here is a strategy for getting my Royal fanny up and moving:
1. Stand up
2. Turn on some fun, fast-paced music like “Dancing Queen” by Abba
3. Get a trash bag ready, locate my file folders, and labeler
4. Set a timer for 45 minutes (less overwhelming than 60)
5. Go and get as much done as I possibly can, “everything has a home” mantra
6. Take a break and do something I LOVE for 15 min (like a healthy grilled veggie sandwich for lunch)
7. Repeat process, if necessary, and yes, I dare say it will be absolutely necessary.
Writing this is perfect because now I’m mustering up the courage to get busy…so yes, kind friends, you must be my motivation today. Thanks! It also helps that I have a guest coming to stay…and I really can’t have my papers all over the bed anymore (office/guestroom). Papers don’t make a very nice comforter. I’m starting to hear dancing queen in my head…better go turn it on. 
Today’s Magic Wand: Where does your motivation come from?
Share with us!!!!
Getting Things Done: Everything Has a Home
January 21, 2008
Celebrate with me! My email in-box is empty (a miracle) thanks to my new mantra (when I see a quick task) “Do it now… it’s just 2 minutes.” Paper in-boxes and my bedroom closet are the opportunities to conquer this week. As I mentioned in the previous post about Getting Things Done by David Allen (GTD), I’m trying not to get overwhelmed by my quest to be an “Organized Startup Princess” so I’ve decided to just add one new productivity skill/thought process each week.
Leslie Kent, my friend, hair stylist and Feng Shui specialist told me to add “Everything has a Home” to my organizational mantras (or if you like, Everything has a Castle!) Perhaps this is basic you to you, but I never thought of organizing that way. Previously I would think “I have deal with that” or, “I have to put that away” Now I say, “Everything has a Home.” It brings more love to my thoughts and energy and there’s no “I have to” in the sentence.
This mantra fits well with the GTD system and how to manage your in-box in Allen’s workflow chart (what is it? does it belong to me? if not, who? delegate? do it now (under 2 min.) or schedule a time for it…file it for a future resource, “give it a home”) Leslie suggested when you’re cleaning up your “stuff” you go through similar same steps…look at the item in front of you and think, “does it belong here? if not, where? trash? does it belong to someone else? can I give it a home?” is it time to give it a new home (donate)? Getting Things Done is about developing and creating new habits…in this case I’m starting with my mindset and how I THINK…repeating questions when I encounter “stuff” is liberating because I have a system now to know what to do next.
Another tip from Leslie, “Only keep what you LOVE, get rid of what you LIKE.” What a powerful concept. Last night I took off a framed print that had been above my HEAD for 2 years that I only so-so liked because it “matched” my decor and immediately the energy shifted, even now with a blank wall I LOVE it. I also took out everything “work-related” (sorry Matt but no Dell Monitor for a client in our bedroom!) and took away extra decorations that just didn’t bring the word “LOVE” to mind. AAAH, relief and peace to my mind and spirit! I LOVED waking up today.
Want More Tips??
Here’s a few posts on Getting Things Done (all written from the productivity guru Leo at Zen Habits, one of my favorite places to get inspired lately):
How to Actually Execute Your To Do List
Today’s Magic Wand: Make a few post it notes for your office, entry way, kitchen counter, etc. “Everything Has a Home” and enroll all family members to practicing “everything has a home” this week. Particularly in the high traffic areas where people tend to “dump” their stuff and forget that “Everything Has a Home.”
Enjoy creating a space of LOVE and Order!
Getting Things Done in 2 Minutes
January 11, 2008
Recently we held our first Startup Princess Networking Tea Party of the year and we discussed the David Allen book, Getting Things Done. It’s already changing my life.
Warning! This is not a book for reading in your bathtub….it really is a book that requires digesting with high levels of energy to concentrate and take notes. But don’t get scared, I highly recommend the effort. It’s definitely a “must read” regarding personal organization and processes for managing “piles of stuff” so there’s a reliable system. Confession: I’ve been the “slightly scattered” Startup Princess and I’d really rather be the “organized and effective” type, so I’m on a quest to change my behavior and decrease my mental stress and burnout/ADD functions because “I have so much to do, if I can just concentrate on where to begin.”
Last Fall I digested Timothy Ferriss‘ “4 Hour Work Week” and it shifted my paradigm of hard work and enjoying life more fully and now I’m working 10 instead of 50, taking more time to do other things important to me, including vacations and family activities, service, etc. I’m over my email addiction (90%) and my obsession with checking my web traffic (getting a desktop computer and putting it in the basement was the secret there, instead of lugging my mac laptop wherever I went like it was my nursing babe). Now if I can just manage the 10 hours that I AM working with order instead of chaos, I think we’ll see great levels of effective outcomes in 2008!! So, I begin with Getting Things Done and have high expectations…afterall, it is a national bestseller, so I hope it will work for me too.
Because I am quite overwhelmed with the thought of tackling my messiness, I’ve decided to just take a new baby step each week. In the book there’s a workflow chart (you can download for free under “free articles” if you create an account on David Allen’s site). 
In the book’s workflow chart it breaks down “what to do with stuff” by saying you should first (1) identify “what is it?” is it trash? is it something you need to keep for future as a reference? what do you need it for? Is it yours? Once you identify with the object and there’s an action associated with it (2) then you’re supposed to just do it then if it will take you less than 2 minutes. This is the teeny tiny baby step I’ve taken in the last several days and it’s really making a difference because I’ve realized how many quick and painless things I overlook often that I can get done in a heartbeat. I love it. Perhaps you will too…
Today’s Magic Wand: If you’re looking at your “To Do” list or in box and you can “get it done in 2 minutes”, don’t put it off any longer. You’ll be amazed by how quickly things will start getting done and your mind will start feeling lighter because it’s such an easy thing to check off. You’ll start to feel energized and organized because you ARE…one baby step at a time.
What’s the NEXT Baby Step you’d recommend?? I’d love to hear your thoughts… what do you think is essential for reclaiming my space and my thoughts? If you’ve read the GTD book, what do you think I should focus on next? What has worked for you?Â
