passion

Why Change Feels so Damn Challenging

Friends are fascinating.  We see in them who we are – and sometimes we see who we don’t want to be. It’s natural to want to help people who are struggling but very often what’s most screwed up is their mindset.  For whatever reason each person must experience their own journey just like a butterfly must release itself from it’s cocoon or a baby chick must break free of the egg on it’s own.

This post is about three people I know and care about.  All have fallen on tough times economically.  All have been pushed into massive mid-life change and are doing their best to deal with the adjustments.  Each has handled it differently.

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The Changes Bubbling Up Inside

It started like a whisper. Change.

Change means releasing the old and embracing the new. Crazy thing is, we don’t always know what to embrace.

For a few years I’ve felt change bubbling inside. The last decade I’ve helped over 1,500 mostly home-based business owners enjoy greater success. I’m a marketing mentor – and I’m good at what I do. When clients act on what I teach – and most do – I’m thrilled for them.

When “Testosterone-Free Marketing” was released I left the Robert Allen organization. Yep, author of mega-bestsellers like “Nothing Down,” “Multiple Streams of Income,” and “The Enlightened Millionaire.” I was his Executive Assistant for 18 months. Then I became the top Marketing Trainer and mentor for his Enlightened Millionaire program for six years.

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What’s Your Secret Excellent Adventure?

Y’know, the one you’re shy about talking with people about.

Maybe you’re set in your business or your career and you don’t want to upset the applecart. After all, the economy is improving – but by any measure it’s limping back – not exactly jumping for joy. You don’t want to speak about it too much because maybe you’re afraid it’ll consume you in it’s grip and there’s nothing else you want to do. You know the one.

Maybe it’s a new passion. Or maybe it’s something you’ve wanted to do all along but you just haven’t figured out a way to make money with it. Plus you have a “monthly nut” you need to cover to have “a life.”

I want you to consider doing something new with your life: there’s always a way. You may not know what the way is yet. I may not know what the way is yet. But at least be open to exploring the possibilities.

Martin Luther King said, “You don’t have to see the whole staircase. Just take the next step.”

If you’re a woman and you have challenges with marketing and selling, get my book, “Testosterone-Free Marketing.” I promise it’ll help you to understand the fear you have around asking people for money and what that whole baloney is about. I promise. Go to http://www.tfmbook.com

If you want to create income online from blogging and somehow monetizing the special information you have, I recommend two other books, “Now is the Time to Crush it: Cash in on Your Passion” by Gary Vaynerchuk and “The 4-hour Work Week” by Timothy Ferriss. Both can give you a general road map. This is what I’m shaping for my life right now. Hey, in a month I’m up to almost 500 folks on my fan page.

If you’d like to take those general ideas and make ‘em a lot more specific, I’m very good at helping people taking all these disparate ideas and help them crystallize ‘em and morph into something that’ll create an income stream doing what you love. Email me at mentoringwithDenise@hotmail.com

Most importantly, never give up on the Secret Adventure you want to create. It can lift you and bring more joy to your life that you ever thought imaginable. Anything that you can dream up – there’s always a way.

Do You Deserve a Life of Excellent Adventures?

Doris appears like a perfect politician’s wife. She’s lovely, tall and dresses well. In her 50s, her blue eyes still sparkle. My perception of Doris shifted when at my Excellent Adventure get-together at Starbucks this week, she whispered, “The biggest obstacle is deciding I deserve to live an excellent adventure.”

You could’ve knocked me over with a feather.

Our American work ethic is about working hard. Then, in your 60s you retire. The world has changed. It’s not unusual for people to work in their 70s now. We work harder, more hours and take less vacation time just to keep our heads above water.

The largest growth of jobs the last decade is not in the Fortune 1000 but in small business. Larger still, is growth in the “start your own business” sector.

We get caught up in maintaining the trappings of success. It’s pounded into our heads. Life should look a certain way. It’s not enough to be presentable and polite. Now we must have “a personal brand.” We miss out on living our excellent adventure because we’re too busy paying for everything.

The new “American Dream” is to live our passion – which can include a lot of financial ups and downs. However, we’re still supposed to maintain all the outer trappings. It also includes the latest iPad, smartphone and other gadgets. Maintaining that “look” or “brand” costs us the freedom to live our Excellent Adventure. We are trapped by our stuff and the expectation that we must keep buying more, even newer stuff.

Doris and her husband own a home in Las Vegas and another in New Mexico. Everything about them screams success. Inside, they both want something different. With their current lifestyle they can’t afford it. So, Doris wonders if she deserves it. I believe she does. If she and her husband are willing to make changes they’ll get there faster.

Consider the possibilities: trade down from a home with a $2,000 monthly mortgage and buy a condo with an $800 mortgage. That’s $1,200 per month in independence. Trade in the fancy SUV for more modest wheels and you free up money spent on payments, insurance and gasoline. Follow the rule you don’t buy something new unless you replace something old. You instantly have more money to live your excellent adventure and less clutter to organize. Life becomes streamlined.

You can live more authentically which truly is your personal brand.

7 Secrets to Stimulate Your Cash Flow

By Denise Michaels

If you’re like millions of business owners you put on a happy face to the rest of the world that says, “Everything’s great!” but on the inside you’re concerned about what’s happening with your cash flow lately.

How do you stimulate your own economy so you get the results you deserve rather than getting caught up in the mass consciousness of lack that’s become so pervasive? This article provides seven stimulating secrets that’ll get you back on track. Wealthy people depend on these principles to keep their cash flow humming so when someone asks them about their business they can honestly and enthusiastically say, “We must be doing something right. My business hasn’t been impacted at all.”

• Stay away from the nattering nabobs of negativity. Whether its cable news with a constant stream of negativity, or, just the people you meet at a networking mixer who seem desperate, steer clear of anyone who’s less than optimistic. About 10-15 minutes of news a day is all you need to keep up to speed with what’s happening. Turn off the news and focus on the 99 percent of the world that’s just fine.

• Make progress every day and give yourself credit. Focus on doing what gives you the greatest results. Creating a successful business is about moving energy and building momentum. Consider all the thrust it takes to get a jet off the ground. Except the most important work you do may not be about running around. The most important work can be about consciously shifting your mindset. Then, when you take action amazing things happen.

• Speak with enthusiasm and passion. Wealthy people attract others to their dreams by speaking with passion, enthusiasm and confidence. They give the impression they just know their product or service is amazing and their business will be a winner. Once you launch your business stop looking for validation. Get over feeling like you need “permission.” If you offer good value and products or services that help others you don’t need permission or validation from anyone.

• Be bold. One bold stroke to get the word out can do much more than dozens of hesitant, little moves. This means expanding your comfort zone because your business growth doesn’t happen any faster than your personal growth. This mean when you decide you’re going to get on a radio talk show or do some other promotion that’ll make a big splash you do it with your head up, with boldness and confidence.

• Understand the importance of marketing. Marketing is about building relationships – but it’s more than smiling and chatting with other business owners at a mixer. Your marketing message goes out ahead of you. It precedes you. It should filter out people not likely to do business with you and filter in people likely to do business with you. Filtering means when you talk with a prospective customer chances are they already know about you and are partially pre-sold making selling easier.

• Be emotionally compelling. People still have wants and needs. What’s lacking right now is confidence. When people feel you understand, empathize and have a solution for their problem they will do business with you. Too many business owners try to play it safe because they think customers will buy based only on features or having the lowest price. They must see how your features and benefits help them solve their problems.

• Ask for the sale. Some business owners enjoy building the relationship however they’re afraid they might mess it up by asking for the sale. Don’t be pushy but be willing to confidently guide and direct a conversation. After I’ve explained everything about what I offer, my fees and answered questions and gotten strong signals that a prospective client is interested my closing question is, “When would you like to get started?”

By following these seven secrets you’ll crack the code on stimulating your own economy. You’ll discover more people are receptive and open to what you offer. They will come to trust you, have confidence in you and as a result your cash flow will increase. You will be in your own flow of wealth and abundance so when people ask you about your business you can sincerely smile and say, “My business is great!!”

Denise Michaels is author of the business bestseller, “Testosterone-Free Marketing” and founder of EmpowerUAcademy. Her mission is supporting people in going for their dreams and she’s known as The Marketing Maven and as an Empowerment Expert. You can also find out about one-on-one mentoring with Denise at her website MentoringwithDenise. All rights reserved.

Top 10 Problems You Must Resolve to Get Your Business Growing

1. You think it looks good, but your website probably looks like your little brother designed it. And, don’t go to one of these template businesses. Most people can see them a mile away. You get what you pay for! Look professional!

2. Your business phone answering machine is your house phone and the message is: “Hi…You’ve reached the Smith clan…Mark, Mindy, Mary, and Michael value your call, so please leave message when you hear Ruffy, our dog, bark”! Change it and tell your Mom when she calls not to hang up…she has the right number.

3. Your business cards and stationary were produced with your inkjet printer or are from some spiffy, cut-rate printing service…Once again, you get what you pay for.

4. You only check email three times a week and are not prompt with replies…this goes for phone calls, too. People love to deal with someone who is professional…and, that means being prompt.

5. Not wanting to call anyone outside your area code. Hey, call that guy in Great Britain or on the other side of the country if you think it will benefit you.

6. Banner exchanges, reciprocal links, mail blasters, spamming, etc. The work is NOT worth the return. Nobody really cares about your banner, link, or email blast to 500,000 for $4.95……they only care about theirs!

7. Fearing failure and not having a “failure is not an option” mindset…Attitude is key!

8. Little passion for your business…just doing it to make money….forget success if this is the case and go get another job if you just want money.

9. Buying into the “something for nothing” pitfall on the net. Buying the “silver bullets” of self-proclaimed gurus who promise you something for nothing. Get a real, live Mentor who has “made it”… don’t try to reinvent the wheel!

10. Playing too safe and taking little risk….working hard and not smart.

To find out more about mentoring with me (I’ve mentored over 1,400 people to success the last decade – one at a time) click here now.

Seven Success Secrets I Learned Working with Robert G. Allen

By Denise Michaels, Author, “Testosterone-Free Marketing”

During the seven plus years I worked with mega-bestselling author Robert Allen I never learned how to become a one minute millionaire. But I did discover some lessons that serve me well in life and business. Here are seven success secrets I carry with me today from that experience.

• HOPE: Once in his home office Robert turned to me and asked, “What do you think people want more of – the motivational stuff or how-tos?”

I replied, “How-tos, of course.” .

Allen added, “People will pay a lot of money for hope.” He was spot on. As I worked with protégés over the years in teleclasses and at seminars this lesson was reinforced over and over again simply based on what I observed. Help people see themselves as successful and a winner in the making. Even if they’ve failed in the past they’ll want to buy from you or know more about what you offer. Give them hope and encouragement.

• PASSION: I was bugging Robert to call a guy back who wanted him to become an investor in a business deal. He was avoiding calling the guy. Finally he called. “I’m not going to get in on your deal and here’s why,” he said. My ears perked up. Allen said, “I looked over your proposal and what you have is a winner – but that’s not the point. Sooner or later I’d get pulled into it and I only get involved with businesses I’m passionate about.”

Never again did I feel bad wanting to make money as a writer and as an author. I stopped feeling guilty about not signing up for MLM deals. If I have no passion for it as a business idea, I don’t do it.

• FOCUS: I used to pride myself on my ability to multi-task. I could juggle ten things at once. I noticed Allen did only one thing at a time. When working together he was 100 percent focused. If he had to call someone he was totally focused on that person. He never seemed stressed like me. I thought it must be nice to be a millionaire, then I’d have the luxury to think one thought at a time, too. I wasn’t envious of the fancy house or lifestyle – I was envious of having time to vision, think and create.

Then it dawned on me: maybe what helped him reach that level was focus. I decided to try it. At first I was afraid everything would fall through the cracks – but it never happened. Everything that mattered got done. I took time to vision and think. That time eventually resulted in my business-bestselling book, “Testosterone-Free Marketing.”

• HIGHEST AND BEST: Once I came in the office and Allen was trying to put together a metal mesh trash can. Finally he looked at me and said, “Now THIS is the highest and best use of my time.” We both laughed.

I started asking myself, “What’s the highest and best use of my time today?” I began accomplishing more of the things that mattered. Checking emails is NOT the highest and best use of your time. Figure out what is – and you’ll accomplish more every day.

• ULTIMATE BENEFIT: I learned this from one of the teleclasses he taught before everything was delegated to other trainers, including me. New business owners often try to figure out what to say to bring in new customers. Allen said figure out your ultimate benefit and start there.

To determine your ultimate benefit: If I used your product or service 30 days, did everything and got a great result what would I have? That’s the ultimate benefit.

• THE 10 PERCENT: Allen read a less than glowing review of his latest book and sighed, “I get a lot of that.” I read the book and enjoyed it. He said, “You can have a business where 90 percent of people hate you and still be a millionaire with the other 10 percent.”

Those words gave me courage when my own book came out and was embraced by many but booed by a few. Knowing I can be “out there” and be my slightly crazy self gave me permission to be my authentic self. Knowing I don’t have to have everyone love me still helps today.

• BE OPEN: Allen was inquisitive and open to learn. He constantly asked questions and listened intently. It was almost as if he was doing market research. People often felt honored a millionaire author would really listen.

Ask questions and listen to what people tell you. It makes them feel good and it might help you get your next big, successful idea.

Denise Michaels is a marketing mentor, trainer and author of the business bestseller, “Testosterone-Free Marketing.” Find out more about her at her websites below:

Marketing with Denise
Empower U Academy – Get marketing and empowerment tips here!
Get Testosterone-Free Marketing
My Copywriting Ebook

Marketing Tip: Be Passionate

By Denise Michaels, Author, “Testosterone-Free Marketing”

Be passionate.

As a business owner: your enthusiasm, your positive energy and your problem-solving skills are sometimes exactly what it takes to save the day and the deal in a business transaction. Passion can actually be a great part of your marketing as a woman. Also, chances are what you offer is a product or service that you’ll be offering for a long time. It’s important that you love your product and believe in it – but it’s even more important for you to love and believe in your customer.

Be passionate first about serving the customer, not just from a customer service standpoint after they become a customer but also in the marketing message that you build before they become a customer. Don’t fall in love with your products (in terms of where your time and energy goes) fall in love with your customers – their needs, what matters to them, how you can help. For many women business owners we have a tendency to wait a little bit until others sort of draw us out and approve of what we do. Passion says, “I’m sold on this. I’m enthusiastic about this. I’d love you to be, too.”

One of the things we love about famous people is their passion: consider the intensity of Donald Trump, the mirth and ease of Jay Leno, the conviction and honesty of Oprah Winfrey and the outrageousness of comedienne Joan Rivers. All of them have a “brand” with their look, their personality and the way they come across to others. We like them (or not) because we know what we can expect with them consistently. You have to own it, be it and work it. When you believe it and convey your convictions others will be drawn into your passion and want to do business with you as a result.

If something doesn’t quite work the way you’d like it to at first – don’t blame your customers for “not getting it.” They are never to blame – the responsibility belongs to us as the business owner to help them “get it.” Your target market is the final arbiter – the problem isn’t about them. It’s about you and your message. Be passionate enough to discover the best way for you to get through.

PS: Get your personally autographed copy of Denise Michaels business bestseller by clicking here. And, you can get her free tips to help you be marketing savvy and more confident as a woman business owner at Empower U Academy.

Secrets to Stimulating Your Own Cashflow

By Denise Michaels, Author, “Testosterone-Free Marketing”

Sure, pundits and experts are starting to cautiously say “the recession is over.” However, if you’re like millions of women business owners you put on a happy face to the rest of the world that says, “Everything’s great!” but on the inside you may still be concerned.

How do you stimulate your personal economy so you get results rather than get caught up in the lack mass consciousness that’s become so pervasive the last year. This article provides seven stimulating secrets to get you back on track. Successful women in business depend on these principles to keep their cashflow humming so when someone asks them about business they can honestly and enthusiastically say, “We must be doing something right. My business hasn’t been impacted.”

• Stay away from the nattering nabobs of negativity. Whether its cable news almost predicting Armageddon daily, or, just the people you meet at a networking mixer who have fear all over their face. Stay away from anything less than optimistic. It’s impossible to be confident when you feel afraid. About 15 minutes of news daily is all you need to keep up to speed with what’s happening. Turn off the news and focus on the 99 percent of the world that’s doing well.

• Make progress every day and give yourself credit. Focus on doing what gives you the greatest results. Creating a successful business is about moving energy and building momentum. Consider all the thrust it takes to get a jet off the ground. Except the most important work you do may not be about running around. The most important work can be about consciously shifting your mindset. Then, when you take action amazing things happen.

• Speak with enthusiasm and passion. Wealthy people attract others to their dreams by speaking with passion, enthusiasm and confidence. They give the impression they just know their product or service is amazing and their business will be a winner. Once you launch your business stop looking for validation. Get over feeling like you need “permission.” If you offer good value and products or services that help others you don’t need permission or validation from anyone.

• Be bold. One bold stroke to get the word out can do much more than dozens of hesitant, little moves. This means expanding your comfort zone because your business growth doesn’t happen any faster than your personal growth. This mean when you decide you’re going to get on a radio talk show or do some other promotion that’ll make a big splash you do it with your head up, with boldness and confidence.

• Understand the importance of marketing. Marketing is about building relationships – but it’s more than smiling and chatting with other business owners at a networking mixer. Your marketing message goes out ahead of you. It precedes you. It should filter out people not likely to do business with you and filter in people who are likely to do business with you. Filtering means when you actually talk with a prospective customer chances are they already know about you and are partially pre-sold making sales much easier.

• Be emotionally compelling. People still have wants and needs. What’s lacking right now is trust and confidence. When people feel you understand, empathize and have a solution for their problem they will do business with you. Too many business owners try to play it safe because they think customers will buy based only on features and benefits. They must see how your features and benefits help them solve their problems.

• Ask for the sale. Some business owners enjoy building the relationship however they’re afraid they might mess it up by asking for the sale. Don’t be pushy but do be willing to confidently guide and direct a conversation. After I’ve explained everything about what I offer, me fees and answered all their questions and gotten strong signals they are interested my closing question is, “When would you like to get started?”

By following these seven secrets you’ll crack the code on stimulating your own economy. You’ll discover more people are receptive and open to what you offer. They will come to trust you and have confidence in you and as a result your cash flow will increase. You will be in your own flow of wealth and abundance so when people ask you about your business you can sincerely smile and say, “My business is great!!”