Choosing Your Future - Les Brown shows us how it's done

Last week on I Can Relate Talk Radio's episode, "Bring It!" we talked about the 3 top things you can bring to your business relationships.  We ended with our Standing Strong Segment, which was to work on yourself, so that you are bringing the best version of you to each relationship you have.

I let you know that I had recently listened to Les Brown's Choosing Your Future speeches.  This is a 6-CD series that highlights the following steps to creating the future you dream of and living your true purpose:

It's Possible
It's YOU
It's Necessary
It's Hard
It's Worth It
It's Done

If you have never heard "The Motivator" speak, then it's time!  He is a powerful man with a unique and personable style.  I first heard of him last year, and was moved by his message.  A few weeks ago, a dear friend and I were talking, and she felt led to lend me this CD Series.  After listening, I believe this message is so relevant and right on track, that I'd like to encourage you to listen to this series of speeches.  It just might be the tool you need to change your life!


Until Next Time,
Jacki

Plan Your Way to Success - Business Planning for 2010

Whew.  2009 is just a memory.  For many people, this is a relief!  But really, what makes 2010 any different?  Is there some magical, mystical reset button that is pushed every January 1st at 12:01 am?  No.

So what will make 2010 a better year than last?  There is only one real answer: YOU.

It is up to YOU to change your energy, your thoughts, your actions, and ultimately your reality.

Want success?  There's no government policy, no stimulus package, no boss, no client, and no series of magical events that will make it happen for you.  So what will YOU do to change your reality around and CREATE the successful year that lies ahead?
It all starts with a plan.  We've all heard the adage "When you fail to plan, you plan to fail."  So what stops most people from creating a written business plan?

• Lack of focus.  Many people don't know the answers to some of the tough questions a business plan forces us to think about.  So instead of doing research, or even making an educated guess, they avoid the excercise altogether.
• Lack of time.  A comprehensive business plan takes a significant time investment.  Many "busy" professionals consider this time investment to be unnecessary.  The thought process runs along these lines:  "If I put that same amount of time into making calls, meeting with prospects, and closing deals, I will be better off.  THAT is what puts money in my pocket, not spending time in front of a computer planning to make money."
• Fear.  Fear of tackling a project they aren't really sure how to do successfully.

Maybe this was the thought process you carry around...or at least, you have in the past.  But I would like to put this challenge out to you:

If you did not write a business plan for 2009, and you are one of the millions of people who thought 2009 was a tough year, then I challenge you to create a business plan for 2010.

• It's time to gain the focus.  Do some research, or at least make an educated guess on projections asked for in the planning process.
• Make the time.  Think of this analogy:  If you wanted to drive to a specific location across country, you would map out your route to ensure you made it to your destination, correct?  You wouldn't just jump in the car, turn the wheel in the general direction, and set out, would you?  No.  Because you would risk spending countless unnecessary hours driving in the wrong direction, with the probability that you wouldn't EVER arrive where you wanted to.  So it is with business planning.  A time investment now will give you a roadmap on your journey to success, giving you a much higher chance of actually reaching the destination.
• No more fear.  There are amazing resources that will literally walk you step-by-step through the process of creating your plan.  Most software will professionally format your final version, complete with charts, tables, and summaries.  

YOU and YOU ALONE have the power to change your reality in 2010 for the better.  Take the first step and begin your plan.  I started mine last week using  Business Plan Pro.  I used this software in 2008 and had a good year.  I didn't use it in 2009, and the year wasn't as good.  So in 2010, I'm getting back on track.  I'm writing my roadmap to success.  If you are too, then I'll see you on the journey!

Until Next Time,
Jacki

Moving from Commitment to Action

What do you need to commit to?  As 2010 approaches, what things in your life do you "wish"  for, "hope" for, or "really" want?

Because if you REALLY want it, it's up to YOU to make it happen.

No one is out there waiting to magically manifest your heart's desire on your behalf.  And if your actions are not in line with your desires, you WILL suffer. You WILL experience discontent. I know, I've lived it.

We hear about Positive Affirmations all the time.  All too often, we stop there.  We determine that we'll create our vision, cut out pictures from magazines and put them on a Dream Board, write our desires on a white board above our desk, carry 3x5 note cards along with us, whatever.  Then we sit back, stare at our Vision Boards, and wait for the magic to happen.  Meanwhile we sit in front of the TV, play video games, or chat on the phone with our best friends trying to figure out why we're not going anywhere.

Do you have a millionaire mind?

You don't know what you don't know. Last weekend at the Millionaire Mind Intensive held in Phoenix, I awoke to find there was alot about money, financial mindset, and money management that I didn't know. I learned about my "Money Blueprint," and found out why I believed certain things about money. More importantly, I learned how to overcome my negative money beliefs by creating empowering habits. It's only been 5 days since the event, and already I've seen a significant increase in business. It's truly amazing!

So I HAD to let everyone I possibly could know about this event led by T. Harv Eker, CEO of Peak Potentials Training. Watch this video to get a small taste of what you'll experience. If you're interested, contact me to learn how you might be able to attend this event for FREE!

Click Here for More Information

Until Next Time...Think Wealthy!
Jacki

The Addiction

Hi. My name is Jacki Semerau, and I'm addicted to blogs. (You say: "Hi, Jacki.")

I'll admit it! And based on all the people I follow on Twitter, am friends with on Facebook, and all the other fun social media stuff I follow, I know I'm not alone.

For me, Seth Godin's blog has to be my all time favorite that's directly related to my business. But then there are the fun and silly blogs, like the Funny Video of the Day blog.

So please....share with me. What are your favorite blogs? Because I need to feed the addiction! (And so does the woman to the left...clearly she is suffering from Acute Blog-Deficiency Syndrome.)

Deadlines are a Girl's Best Friend

I have to admit, one of the things I thought was fabulous when I first became self-employed was a lack of deadlines. No one needing this, that, or the other from me. I finished things on MY terms!

Of course, contact with clients, setting appointments, following up, etc...those were all a given, because they were fun AND they were the money-making activities. And of course, once hired for a marketing project, I was all over the deadlines! But everything else? I became like a Jamaican..."No Worries, Mon!"

Then I noticed a trend: all the fabulous ideas and projects that would take my business to the next level were never getting done. I chalked it up to the "not enough time in the day" theory, and was content to consider myself too busy. "Things will slow down, and THEN I'll get these important yet non-urgent items taken care of."

Last week, I had someone close to me encourage me to set a deadline for something I wanted to do, needed to do if I were to take my business to the next level. They even offered to hold me accountable for that deadline, which is exactly what I needed!

I'm proud to say that I met that deadline, and I felt great! So I started setting deadlines for other non-urgent yet important tasks. I'm suddenly finding that there actually IS enough time in the day. It just needed a deadline to reveal itself....and a third party accountability partner to hold me accountable!

If you're self-employed, an entrepreneur, an independent contractor, or a freelance professional...find someone that will hold you accountable to your deadlines, and watch your business take a leap forward!

5 Reasons to Love Self-Employment

1. If you need a power nap, you can take one....and you find it actually makes you more productive that afternoon.

2. When you've had an amazingly productive morning, you can reward yourself by taking the rest of the day off.

3. No unnecessary corporate meetings.

4. If a project isn't profitable, you can decide not to it.

5. The sky is the limit! Your success is a direct result of your dedication and effort. No glass ceilings, no waiting on the boss to decide if you deserve a raise, and no one else deciding your worth.

Self-Employment Rocks!

Two Voices: One Reality

We all have two voices within our minds that struggle to be heard. One voice is telling us our purpose, our desires. It tries to convey our value and our strengths. The other voice is busy telling us why we can’t do all of the things that the first voice is saying.

Yet we can only give life to one voice at a time. And we do that by choice. We can choose to listen to what the first voice is saying, and our reality becomes one of purpose and strength. Or we can choose to listen to the condemning negativity of the second voice, and our reality is then wrought with struggle and strife. Which voice we choose to let determine our activities is solely up to us.

So my question to you is this: which voice are you letting guide your reality?

In these tough economic times, it’s easy to give into the voice with bad intent. We see our circumstances as insurmountable, and so it is an easy fix to listen to the negativity. But there is a huge difference between our circumstances and our reality.

A circumstance might be out of our control, but our reaction to it is up to us. Maybe you’ve heard the saying that “Life is 10% what happens to us, and 90% how we react to it.” We can choose to react by listening to the voice that tells us that things are too tough, so we might as well give up. That we’re banging our heads up against a brick wall trying to survive right now. Or we can react to the voice that tells us that we are strong enough, smart enough, and creative enough to not only get through this tough circumstance, but to thrive because of it.