She Owns It

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Soft Skills aren’t ‘Soft’ by @SBSLEducSoltns

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by SJ Barakony | Featured Contributor

“Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast” … and …. soft skills are the breakfast of  winners!

 

Did that subtitled quote ( thank YOU to the late Peter Drucker ) catch your eye?!

Good!

(It was meant to do just that, dear readers.)

 

We now dive into a deep pool …

In truth, an entire online library could conceivably be dedicated to nothing but them!

Thought leaders all across the globe, including many in your LinkedIn network, have spoken of their past experiences, spun stories, & shared wisdom nuggets through books, webinars, podcasts, & even created whole curricula focusing on these immensely valuable skills.

So, we’re just skimming the surface: Becoming self educated, role modeling a better ‘You, Inc.’ to your staff, clientele, & fellow entrepreneurs & revisiting your business culture would each be forward thinking outcomes.

 

Foundational Definitions

 

Soft Skills :  

Please click here , here , & here.

You might already be asking …  Are these the same as people … interpersonal … or life skills?      Yes.

 

Culture :

Excellent articles

1 … 2 … & … 3

 

 

Let’s now briefly discuss the inexorable connection between culture & soft skills in your business(es).

 

Are soft skills a necessary part of a vibrant entrepreneurial [workplace], culture?

 

A great number of signs point to a clear, resounding ‘yes’, since these skills are so often not taught in classrooms in all ‘tracks’ ( K-12, up to & including graduate level studies )

An entrepreneur is likely to become a magnet to others if she offers them as part of ongoing professional development for her staff, regardless of industry. If you’re dealing with confounding challenges that coaching or some other service pro hasn’t yet solved, or, maybe you just seek to expand, laser focus here;  you are onto something BIG.

 

What do others say?

 

Here’s a post well worth reading …

 

And this author comes to a like conclusion.

 

A personal story & opportunity to serve

 

My own entrepreneurial journey wouldn’t be nearly as rich without the visceral impact of these skills on my own ventures.

 

Through the fall of last year, I had the high honor of being a member of a nationwide committee

And, for that same organization, I was asked to be a co-panelist on this webinar.

 

If you’re offered anything similar, what’s commonly known as an influencer, as I was, please, I implore you: take it!

 

Our discourse at networking events, in business dealings with peers, levels of customer service, engagement & satisfaction amongst your staff, decreased turnover:

I truly believe all would benefit positively.

 

A Sampling of @Twitter Thoughts [from across the ‘Twitterverse’]

 

Future Learn

Vala Afshar

Scott Hartley

 

What soft skills should I focus on to improve my business’ culture?   

 

The answers will vary considerably from venture to venture, industry to industry. After all, this field is not barren; it is richly blossoming in content of all kinds which you can surely beta test, or go all in & fully invest your development dollars from the get-go.

 

 

Should I hire, fire, outsource, and/or promote with these skills as the key determinant?

 

Yes.

You can always get someone up to speed on ‘harder’ (read: technical) skills if you have an individual who understands how to prioritize ( time management ); whom has a good attitude;  who can work on any team and contribute; who knows how to resolve a conflict; and whom can build her leadership abilities through influence, vision, & service rather than expecting others to follow a title, or positional authority.

 

What’s the best way to deliver them?    

 

This, too, is flexible.

In a hyper competitive industry (e.g., real estate, insurance, financial services, banking), encouraging your staff, & leaving room in your own day for lifelong learning would be smart. Many of these professions already require ‘CE’ , however, incentivizing ongoing development of soft skills through ‘comp time’, bonuses, etc., will offer you a clear edge. Everyone else is aware of the former, while you also recognize the latter = difference maker.

Finding ways to collaborate with a services professional who offers group facilitation, mentorship, business coaching, or a consultant with focused training program would be a clear win:win.

 

Next steps:

Take action!  The Gig (Sharing/P2P) Economy moves infinitely faster than its predecessor eras. And, expecting that the conventional schooling institutions will begin to offer these skills so you won’t have to invest wouldn’t be advisable.

 

Learn more. If this post & the related links doesn’t yet convince you of their importance, attend a conference, lunch & learn, register for a webinar, or listen to a podcast that discusses professional development.

 

In short …

 

  • Soft skills should be taken very seriously
  • Culture is a foundational necessity.
  • If offered an opportunity to spread the word about soft skills, accept it with a smile
  • Fundamental challenges ( i.e., turnover, satisfaction, engagement ) can be solved at the root
  • Reconsider your standards for hiring, firing, and promoting staff.
  • Delivering soft skills into your culture can be done in numerous ways
  • Don’t stand still

 

________

Thank YOU for reading!

Principled and Phenomenal Self Directed Education: Podcasts by @SBSLEducSoltns

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by SJ Barakony | Featured Contributor

The ‘Why, Whom, How, When, & Where’ of Listening to Podcasts

Podcasting is a phenomenal medium for entrepreneurs in so many ways that it stood out to me as an ideal ‘sequel’ post to last month’s focus on self directed education.

Over a decade ago, as the entrepreneurial, “E” pathway in America quietly criss-crossed with the “C” pathway ( Corporate ), thereby becoming more viable & available to the masses than it had been since the latter decades in the 19th century; in parallel, many new educational options emerged to enable us to constantly learn outside of a classroom’s credentialized learning environment:

  • Webinars
  • Networking & business development combined [ e.g., H7 Network ]
  • audio books [ Audible & others ]
  • Seminars [ usually in person ]
  • Blogging
  • Podcasting
  • E-books

We’ve become more blessed than ever before, since its crucially important to be constantly feeding yourself the very best ‘brain‘ food as you pursue your dreams, turn those ideas into actionable strategies, goals, & plans, and, of course, serve your clients/customers thereby solving their problems, challenges, roadblocks, & pain points.

Mr. Chris Hewitt spoke of “‘The 4 P’s of Podcasting’ : Permission; Personality; Passion; Profit.”

[ ClicktoTweet this; it’s catchy!: https://ctt.ac/dSJUe ]

Here’s the fantastic article from the spring of 2018 which discusses these 4 P’s in far greater detail:  How to Turn your Idea into an Audio Hit – it’s well worth reading.

Why should I listen to podcasts?

Building further on the foundation of those P’s , podcasts are:

 

  • Highly portable’ via any smart device that huge majorities of us carry everywhere.
  • Their content “seeps in” easier during more ‘mindless’ activities, like many household chores.
  • They’re easier to adopt and grow a lifelong learning mindset than sitting down to read.
  • A majority of hosts & their created/curated content is NOT taught in conventional schooling courses/curricula.

 

Where & When to listen?

From my own story, I encourage everyone to listen anywhere & anytime they possibly can; you might be surprised at the opportunities in ‘cracks’ of time that you’ve not thought of!

 

  • Grocery shopping & other errands
  • While driving
  • During solo meals
  • Household chores as a positive add-on ; replace mind numbing television with a podcast episode or three.
  • Working out

 

How might I listen?   I’m so ‘busy’ !?

 

That’s one of the oldest mantras you’ll hear, and likely have used many times; let’s toss it aside, since we all have had the exact same number of seconds, minutes, & hours in our days since the beginning of time.

Trust me in this:  If you bucket your day into what we might call ‘time investments‘; ‘time expenditures‘; and ‘time wasters‘, you’ll be able to find and/or create the time to answer this to your own satisfaction.

 

Whom should I listen to?  

The number of options are mind blowing!

 

  • Over 550,000 active shows
  • 18.5+ million episodes
  • 100+ languages

Source & all credit to:   https://www.podcastinsights.com/podcast-statistics/

 

Whom?  Part 2 : Top 10(+1) List

 

With that many options, it’s beyond clear that this post is only scratching the tiniest portion of the surface of what’s available.

Yet, I’m confident that each of these are well worth your time investment; please either listen to an episode from the below sample &/or subscribe right away. I heartily welcome your feedback, both on this post and/or through my social channels, after you’ve done so.

 

 

The Rich Dad Radio Show w/ Robert Kiyosaki

  • Jan 31 (2018) : Blockchain will Change Everything in Business ; July 4 (2018) : Find out How Financial Education Sets You Free

How I Built This w/ Guy Raz

  • June 25 (2018) : Lyft: John Zimmer ; March 26 (2018) : Atari & Chuck E. Cheese’s: Nolan Bushnell

Igniting Souls w/ Kary Oberbrunner

  • July 27 (2018) : Why podcasts grow your … (Jeff Brown interview) ; August 3 (2018) : Why your freedom, finances, & fulfillment … ( David Branderhorst interview )

The Go Giver w/ Bob Burg

  • 120 : My New Favorite Story ; 086 : Business is for Kids – JJ Ramberg

Entre Leadership

  • 267: Gary Kelly – Leading Through Tragedy ; 262 : Daymond John – Rise & Grind

Isaac Moorehouse

  • 138 : Bryan Caplan on The Case Against Education ; 128 : Robert Murphy on Austrian Business Cycle Theory

Success to Significance hosted by Rick Coplin **

  • StS035: How to be an Extraordinary, Life Centered Mentor ; StS001: Get Out Before They Carry You Out

** the podcast is on hiatus & will resume with season II

School Sucks

  • 567: Noah Tetzner – The Unschooler Podcast Star ; 550-51 : Blake Boles – What It Means to Be Educated

Our Modern Heritage

  • 023: The Importance of Soft Skills to Prepare for the Future ; 035: Kirstynn Evans – Starting a Business with Your Child

Conversations on Communications w/ Joel Kessel

  • 033: Let’s Not Lose Sight of Basic Fundamentals ; 028 : The Most Damaging Thing to a Child

Columbus Entrepreneurs

  • 026: Claire Coder of Aunt Flow ; 006: David Butcher , FlyBy Entrepreneurship

 

In short …

  • There are so many ways to be self educated; create & expand your lifelong learning culture & related habits.
  • Know of the 4 P’s to podcasting.
  • The answers to the Why, When, & Where Q’s are more valuable than How.
  • Feel welcome to start, or grow, your podcasting habit by listening in to any of the ten/10 recommended hosts & sample episodes above.

________

Thank YOU for reading!

It’s ‘Back to School’ … Self-Education never went, or goes, on Vacation by @SBSLEducSoltns

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by SJ Barakony | Featured Contributor

Why your education always should be in a ‘state of beta’

From coast to coast, and border to border, parents & students across America have been singing a familiar refrain:

What’s that, you ask?

Back to school season!

The mompreneurs amongst us, family businesses who hire their children, and businesses, online & off, which cater to this century plus old tradition are a-buzz; credit card terminals are working overtime, banks & credit unions are aflutter, & certain aisles at your favorite stores are packed with humanity!

Yet, we need to put up a BIG stop sign.

Why?!

Because, education never went, or goes, on vacation, and is ALWAYS in season. [ ClicktoTweet this : https://ctt.ac/86sc7 ]

Are education & school the same, or are they, in fact, different?   

Different.

History & etymology show us:

School’s definition

Education’s is clearly not the same:  Click here to see.

Are education & entrepreneurship inseparable?  How, if at all, does school fit in?

I put forth that they are. And, perhaps.

When you are running a business of any size, in any industry, and with any amount of experience, you should be constantly educating yourself. No one owner or founder knows anywhere close to what she needs at any given time. The world of entrepreneurship is not nearly as risky as it once was ( the internet’s ‘leveling effect’ deeply disrupted this old paradigm ), yet you’ll not prosper if you operate your business like an employee, or as a consumer.

Does education need to take place in a classroom?

No.

Again, the internet’s massive scale, & breadth is the answer to the ‘why?’ question that might be on your lips.

While discussions & rational discourse have, are, and will continue in the future on this subjective topic, this blog takes the position that these two ‘E”s are tightly intertwined, therefore, the requirement for school’s classrooms, and the credentials they offer, isn’t necessary.

What if I’ve taken a vacation from education?    

That’s not a dis qualifier; you may rest easy.

MANY citizens have, and a great deal of them didn’t know any better; they fell into their familiar zones, a metaphysical stage that led them to cling to nostalgia, conventional ‘wisdom’, and assumptions that no longer hold true.

The vacation(s), you have taken, or are presently on should now come to an end. And, you’ll want, and truly should, become a student again. This time, a lifelong one.

Pursue information that, with discernment and application over time, undergoes a metamorphosis into knowledge. Your business’ clients/customers, staff ( if any ), and your own future self will thank you.

What kind of question(s) should I ask about my self-education?  

Start with these, once you’ve returned from vacation:

  1. Do I have a ‘line item’ in my budget for investment ( it’s NOT spending, or an expense. ) ?

  2. Whether ‘yes’ , or ‘no’, to #1, how much $ should I put aside?

  3. What resources are out there?

  4. When & where can I access them?

  5. How can I measure progress?

Be the example ( *whether you have staff, or if you’re a solo-preneur )

There’s really no difference.

If you’re on your own, a case can be made that your self education is even more valuable, that is, unless you have a volunteer ‘board’ of advisors/mentors to lean on.

Yet, if you already delegate to others, wish to replicate yourself in someone else  ( ‘replacement driven’ leadership – click HERE ), and/or are in the process of systematizing your business **, you should always expect more of yourself; diving in deeply to the education(al) “pool” will inspire those whom you want to lead to follow you, voluntarily & with a spring in their step.

( ** unclear what this means?  Here’s a great starting point. )

Should I be requiring school(‘ing’)?  

You’ve arrived! Your profits are growing, your cash flow is strong; expansion of your physical space is afoot; more product is shipping than ever before; And, you need more staff to keep up: Yesterday. Now.

Let’s be clear:  Putting a ‘credentialized collar’ on this process, in the modern (circa 2006) ‘Conceptual Age’ is a big step backwards in time to a past era.

Listen & watch for signs of those whom are self educated & have come home from their vacation(s).

You’ll recognize them:   When you interview, review their application , or ask questions at an event, they’ll excitedly talk about …

 

… Books that they love & have, or are, read(ing).

….. Networking events that they’ve attended, or are a part of.

……. Podcasts that they listen to, or about their Audible subscription.

………. The speaker whom they heard live, on a webinar, or via YouTube/Vimeo.

 

Seek out these people: They are your difference makers!

In short …

Education & school are unique concepts.

A great many of us in business were, or are still  are, on vacation from education.

Entrepreneurship & education are inter-linked.

Self leadership & self education are very similar.

Bring on those who are educating themselves & don’t require credentials as you grow & prosper in your business ventures.

________

Thank YOU for reading!

Your Business’ NQ : Networking “Q” Score by @SBSLEducSoltns

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by SJ Barakony | Featured Contributor

 

How It’s Measured & Why it Matters to Entrepreneurial Success

 

This month marks another milestone in my lifelong learning journey.

What milestone, you might being asking?

A: 5 ½ years.

Q = how much time has passed since I attended my first ever business networking event?

( And, I still remember where that event took place & 2-3 people whom I met! )

 

Jumping in the wayback machine & rewinding 2-3 years, I consciously made a servant leadership driven decision then to take focused action on 1 of my 13 resolves:

Leave a legacy by paying forward as much of what I know about networking to those who truly want to learn.

 

For those who invest time in personal, professional, or leadership development, you will likely recognize 1, some, or all of the below:

IQ

EQ

AQ

CQ **

So, what’s NQ ?!

 

Your NQ, or networking quotient/’Q’ score won’t be as obvious, however, if you’re an entrepreneur, sales professional, or considering starting a business, you should know the what, how, & why behind it.

 

How’s it Measured?

 

There are five separate, interdependent inputs which comprise your NQ score.

Each can be weighed proportionately, with 1, maybe 2 being more impactful to your professional life.

 

What are the five?

 

  • Follow Through  

 

Have you attended an event lately?   You likely left the room with many small rectangles in your pocket, purse, or wallet popularly known as business cards, didn’t you?

Now, here’s the acid test:

Have you reconnected with the persons who gave you those cards within one week, or less?

Give yourself a self high five if you honestly can say ‘yes, I have.’

You already understand the immense & lasting value of a timeless maxim –  “The fortune is in the follow up.”

You haven’t yet?  That’s OK. Chalk it up as a teachable moment.

Go back to them, yes, even if you haven’t yet finished reading this, and complete what you meant or should’ve done.

Then, the next time you venture out, learn, grow, and build this habit.

 

  • Asking creative , counter-intuitive Q’s

 

“What” do you do?    How often have you fielded, &/or asked this question?

This is a LVQ: Least valuable question. Let’s infuse some energy, create & use MVQ’s instead.  [ Click HERE to Tweet this.]

 

Here’s a success law :

Make your questions bigger than your [expected] answers.

 

Here are some MVQ’s:

Why did you get started in (your) business?  

Where do you see your business going in the next year?  

What brought you here today?

Describe your typical day; how do you go about your business?

 

  • Listening > talking

 

“Two ears, one mouth; use them in proportion.”

Wise advice:

Yet, the art of active listening isn’t often practiced at networking events, is it?

It’s not. And after all these years, I can say this, since this input remains my biggest challenge.

You’re rightfully excited, as I am, about your business; you’re also passionate, and think your service, product, or story is meant for everyone you meet; so why not talk a lot about it, right?

Put yourself on the other side of the conversation; the other individual doesn’t know you yet. You’ve yet to build a win:win relationship. Listen to him/her 1st; pick up on any pain, challenges, problems that might arise from your MVQ’s; then, as you’ve established likeability & trust, you’ll eventually have plenty of opportunity to share.

 

  • Give > Get mentality

 

Here are three easy to recall networking equations:

 

  • Serve > be served
  • Act like a producer & connector > be ‘consumerist’
  • Pull > push

 

In short, always give first : I suggest studying this article for more on this must have mindset.

Relationships triumph transactions at all times; in order to build the former, you’ll need to serve 1st always.

Deliver results for the other person, perhaps by creating virtual or live, on the spot introductions.

 

  • Match your digital ‘footprint’ to your physical presence

 

RSVPing.

Doesn’t it seem like its is no longer taken as seriously as it used to be?

You’re not imagining this, trust me.

If you don’t show up where & when you said you would, you’ve subtracted from your character & relationships scoreboard.  And these take effort to rebuild once they’ve been depleted.

Instead, how about always aligning your online/digital commitments to your physical self?

 

Said another way: When you commit online, be there in person; if you truly have a viable reason for not attending, be certain to invest a moment to let the organizer know so he or she can adjust.

 

Why it matters

 

Business networking can & remains feared by some, is considered ineffective by others, and/or is misunderstood, yet when you apply these five principle centric inputs,it’s actually worth your very best effort, investment of time, and willingness to be humble & honeable.

 

Thank YOU for reading!

________________________________

** a big thank YOU to friend & fellow entrepreneurial mind, Chad Willett, for also bringing to my attention.

3 Reasons Your Confidence Fuels Your Entrepreneurial Spirit

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Building a new business is exciting! Your vision become a reality in business is an empowering boss move! Passion and purpose are the main ingredients to a great business. Your confidence fuels your entrepreneurial spirit! Inspire your boss moves with three reasons your confidence fuels your entrepreneurial spirit.

Ashley Terrell

 

  • Focus fuels your entrepreneurial spirit! Focus is key when building your business or brand. Your confidence fuels your entrepreneurship spirit when you’re focus on strengthening what encourages you to stand tall! Confidence knowing your brand’s advantages and goals fuel for your entrepreneurial spirit. First, focus on building valuable relationships, not business relationships that aren’t fruitful. Secondly, check your local newspaper or social media networks for clubs, communities or interest groups.  Social media community boards are great for workshops that will allow your confidence to fuel your entrepreneurial spirit. Visit your local library branch for publications and periodicals to fuel your entrepreneurial spirit.

  • Use your confidence to set your brand apart from the “competition”.  Think about this: difference highlights your brand’s many abilities to serve your customers. Entrepreneurs view fellow businesses as competition.  Use your brand’s difference to spotlight why your business or brand is to be considered important. Business development can be responsible for critical thinking of entrepreneurs. “Their business is like mine” is a phrase all entrepreneurs have heard when building their business or brand. Think about like this: brand recognition is a business acknowledging there’s businesses and brands of the same liking. On the other hand, brand awareness is your business’s drill sergeant. Brand awareness keeps an entrepreneur mindful of the necessity to build their brand at all times.

  • Overturning customer’s rejection fuels your entrepreneurial spirit. Lastly, fuel your entrepreneurship spirit with customer service experience. The “engagement-and-interacting skill” will aid your confidence to fuel your entrepreneurship spirit.  Emphasize COACH, not HINDRANCE. Rejection of a brand can allow us to see the client doesn’t have a necessity for what you’re selling.  Confidence and customer service allows you the ability to level with a customer and sell from another angle. For example, your greeting card company wants to print stationary for a prospect. The prospect wants to use your services, but you don’t have their choice of paper. Would you refer the prospect or accommodate by ordering the paper?

Most importantly, confidence reigns loudest during the early stages of establishing a brand. Your confidence level is reason to fuel your entrepreneurial spirit and mind! Begin your day with our She Owns It tips, relax and feel the difference! Furthermore, energize your entrepreneurial spirit and recharge your mind with the inspiring reads below:

How To Design Your Own Happy by Renee Pedro of @crashpaddesigns

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by Renee Pedro | Featured Contributor

Are you happy? That shouldn’t be hard to answer, but for some of us of it is. Many of us measure our happiness based on outside factors. where we are getting it wrong. Our distorted views of happiness are influenced by what society says happiness is.

This isn’t new. It’s the story of” Keeping up with the Joneses.” A comic strip created by Arthur R. Momand in 1916. It was about the McGinis family and their struggle to keep up with their neighbors the Joneses. Today the Joneses are not only the people across the street. They are your friends and the friends of your friends in your social media news feed. Why are we wasting our lives comparing ourselves to other people? I know women are especially guilty of this. We compare ourselves to other women all the time. How are you ever going to keep up with those countless images of “Perfection” in your Instagram feed? Why do you want to?

When you scroll by a picture of a friend in her perfect living room, with her perfectly coifed toddlers, do you think, darn why can’t we take a family photo like that? What you don’t know is, on her dining room table are stacks of clean laundry, that she hasn’t put away yet. Or that two minutes before the photo the toddlers were covered in chocolate. She’s not Mrs. Jones, either. Like you, she’s trying to keep up. I’m not saying I want to see everyone’s dirty laundry in my social media feed. I just want more people to be real. I “ll go first. There’s an overflowing laundry basket in my bedroom, there are dishes in the sink, dust bunnies in the dining room, and my desk is a mess. There that feels better. I’ll let you in on a secret, perfection doesn’t exist, despite what Instagram tells you.

A long time ago, I made a decision not to be Mrs. McGinis anymore. I don’t want to keep up with Joneses. When I was comparing myself to other people, I wasn’t appreciating who I am and what I have. This is a self-defeating habit. Once we stop striving for an Instagram worthy life we can have a really happy life. On your own terms. Teddy Roosevelt, said “Comparison is the thief of joy”

Once you realize you don’t have to be better than she is. Nor do you have to be thinner, taller, smarter or richer. You can start being happy. If you are being who you want to be, how can anyone tell you, you’re doing it wrong. The only thing you have to be is your best you. To be comfortable in your own skin means being happy to let people know who you really are. I spent my twenties believing that life was a competition, it’s not. There’s no finish line and there is no finite amount of success, money or happiness. There is enough to go around. When it comes to happiness, one size doesn’t fit all. Your happy isn’t the same as my happy. Happiness is personal, and you have to design YOUR happy.

Have you ever heard anyone say, “She marches to the beat of her own drum”? It’s not usually meant as a compliment. When someone says that, people hear, she’s quirky, she doesn’t quite fit in, she likes to do things her own way. It should be a compliment, because being you, and living life on your own terms is tremendous. If you’re an entrepreneur and you’re building your brand you need to march to the beat of your own drum. You’ll never have great happiness living by someone else’s standards. You didn’t start your business to do the same things the same way they have always been done. Why bother?

The first step should be to figure out what your happiness looks like. With all the challenges of running your own business, you should at least be doing it in a way that makes you happy? Everything about your business should reflect who you are and your personality. A few months ago I reconnected with a friend I hadn’t talk to in over fifteen years. We were very close in our twenties, then she moved back to the west coast and after a few years, we lost contact. She searched for me online and found my business Crash Pad Designs. She emailed me and said, “Pedro,(she’s always called me by my last name) as soon as I saw your website I knew it was you.” I was very happy to hear from my old friend. I was also happy and proud, to hear that my business was a reflection of my personality. What a compliment, I was marching to the beat of my own drum.

Here’s a question. What comes first success or happiness?

Every business owner wants to be successful, but if you’re not happy are you really successful? If you’ve already made the decision to be your own boss, don’t hold back now. Whatever your business, you can, of course, find inspiration from other people. Inspiration is awesome but, imitating someone else is stressful and unfulfilling. Running your own business is hard enough, no need to make it harder. So take that inspiration and do it your way. Then one day someone will find inspiration in you.

The moral of the comic strip was, the McGinnis family could never keep up with the Jones. Even back in 1916, the goal post was always moving. Trying to live a life based on other people’s standards of success and happiness, means you will always be chasing a moving goal post.

I am still active on social media and I still count how many people like my post. But I am not chasing that moving goal post. I have dirty clothes on the floor, dust bunnies, and my favorite jeans are getting tight, but I’m really happy.

So what does your happy look like?

How to Start Keeping Your Resolutions Today by @Tetyana_Art

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by Tetyana Artemova

“One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: to rise above the little things.” John Burroughs

You made New Year resolutions. Now it’s May and now you’re 4 months into those “365-days-of-opportunities”. The time is running very fast, isn’t it?

According to the survey conducted by Statista Company 93% of all respondents are confident in keeping their resolutions made for 2018. What about you?

In fact, the reality is not so optimistic and usually 50% of all resolutions fail. But it shouldn’t be the case with you. Probably you decided to keep all resolutions this time as 2018 is going to be the year of BIG changes for you.

So, let’s have a closer look at the steps you should follow if you want to keep your New Year resolutions and reach the goals:

1. Make a plan

You should have a plan for each resolution. What does it mean?

Make a list a smaller steps that need to be done in order to reach the main goal.

For example, if your resolution was to visit a new country, do the following: specify the country you would like to visit, set the dates when you would like to go there, describe what you personally need to reach this goal (tickets, vacation, a definite sum of money, particular people to go with you and so on…). Being specific will give you more chances to reach the goal.

2. Set the deadlines

It is quite obvious that if you want to reach something you expect to get it asap. But make sure to write specific deadlines in your plan. It would be great if you could name the dates or the time of the year for your goals.

Visual planning works great in this case. Create a plan with goals and time periods on a sheet of paper and hang this paper on the wall to be able to see it daily. Such planning will remind you of your goals and stimulate doing actions towards their achievement.

3. Share

When you are talking about your resolutions you are showing your intentions to keep them.

For example, if you’ve decided to become an entrepreneur in 2018 it would be great if you could share your business ideas with family and friends. Doing so you can find people who will support you and help you with any beginning.

Remember, when you are doing the first step to your goal the whole Universe starts to help you. So, just share!

4. Review the progress

Big goals need time to be achieved. But it doesn’t mean that you won’t see the results until that time. Review small intermediate steps that you have done. It will give you an opportunity to see the progress and motivate to move forward.

5. Stay focused

This step is not so easy to follow but it is one of very important in the whole process. Your goal will take efforts and patience. It is very important not to give up and concentrate on what you should reach. Sometimes you may be tired or demotivated. In such moments just give yourself some rest and remember why you have started. Relax and keep on working.

Final thoughts

It is very important to set goals and plan their achievement. Patience and consistency in making steps towards your resolutions will definitely show the results you will be proud of one day. Any goal is achievable if you have strong intentions and ready to give your time and efforts in order to see the results. So, it’s time to start doing real actions, isn’t it?

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Tetyana Artemova is an entrepreneur, blogger, and motivator. She is the founder of IStartHub, the blog for starting entrepreneurs who are searching for business ideas and taking their first steps in building new life and starting a business.

If You’re Not Tooting Your Horn, Who Is? by Renee Pedro of @crashpaddesigns

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by Renee Pedro | Featured Contributor 

After reading The New York Times Obituaries,( not something I do regularly) I was inspired. In honor of Women’s History Month, the paper embarked on a series called “Overlooked“.

It tells the stories of 15 accomplished and remarkable women. These women were overlooked by the paper’s obituary page at the time of their deaths. The paper admits that since 1851, only 1 in 5 of their obituaries is of a woman. Of the 15 women in the New York Times, I had only heard of four. How different could the world be if the stories of female trailblazers, were more well known? We’ll never know how many more women could have found inspiration in those stories, or what they might have accomplished. Many of our foremothers have made extraordinary contributions to society. Unfortunately, most of their stories remain untold.

Will your story be untold? Well, that’s up to you. I know it’s not always easy to talk about yourself and your accomplishments. I struggle with this too. Women don’t brag or self-promote because it’s not ladylike. Women are less likely to ask for a raise, ask for a promotion or seek a business loan. This ingrained nonsense is holding us back. Can we get over it already?

If you’re not tooting your horn, who is? Tooting your own horn doesn’t have to be obnoxious or bragadocious. It can be as simple as telling your story. Telling your story is great for your business, but the more important reason to tell your story is you might inspire someone.

There is no blueprint for what or who is inspirational. I find inspiration in the stories from the New York Times. But I am also inspired by a story of a woman, who recreated her life after years of addiction and homelessness. Inspiration is everywhere.

In 9th grade, a man who had grown up in my neighborhood spoke to my class about being a stockbroker on Wall Street. I didn’t even know what a stockbroker was, but it inspired me. Two years ago when a friend asked me to speak to her jr. high school students about being an entrepreneur, that story from 9th grade made me say yes. You never know who you can touch with your story. Or what it will lead to in their lives.

How can your story help in your business? Telling your story is a way to connect with potential customers. People can always buy from a faceless business. Or they can buy from someone they feel a connection with. You. In business, it’s imperative that potential customers trust you. It’s your responsibility to build that trust. What better way for them to trust you, than by getting to know a little about you.

Running an online business means I don’t get to meet everyone who visits my store, but I still tell them my story. This is rewarding in more ways than one.

Not every day, but every once in awhile I get an email from someone who connected with my story. Most times they become a customer, but sometimes they don’t. I have a folder of all those emails. They range from, “I love your story and I can’t wait for my order to arrive.” to, “I can’t afford to buy anything from you, but I want you to know your story inspired me.”

Some days those messages are just what I needed. Somedays they are even better than a sale.

I never thought my story was inspirational, but I was wrong.

Everyone has a story and you never know how your story can affect someone else’s life. So share it!

Here’s a chance to toot your own horn!

I would love you to share a little of your story in the comments below. #tootyourownhorn

5 Inspiring Lessons Women Entrepreneurs can take away from Walt Disney by @jodijill

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by Jodi Jill | Featured Contributor

Every week I make my trek to Disneyland for a little inspiration. Yes, this famous Anaheim theme park is coined the Happiest Place on Earth, but if you study the life and success of the founder, Walt Disney, it probably should be called the Most Inspiring Place on Earth. Of course, I’m the first in line beating out the teens wanting to ride Thunder Mountain. I’m certain if you’re in the park you’ve probably heard me screaming my lungs out when we make those sharp turns on the Matterhorn. But I don’t always go to the park for the attractions.

The real reason I go to Disneyland? Well, it’s for the inspiration.

The life of Walt Disney and his path of being an entrepreneur is inspiring. Walt Disney almost didn’t make his dream of sharing his art come true. In a blink of an eye everything he came to build was taken away by a crafty a film distributor in New York. As the story goes, Walt Disney was so infuriated after he was basically torn away from his own work. The distributor secretly hired his staff from under him and insisted he take a pay cut. Instead he walked away. He didn’t just leave though, he left with purpose and anger which fueled his next project. This rage of betrayal was the main reason the beloved character Mickey Mouse was born.

Walt Disney’s legacy continues today. The chance to be strolling around the park in 2018, where he once oversaw construction over 50 years ago is a physical reminder that anything is possible. There is no doubt that Disneyland is considered an iconic location, add all the Disney Parks and it’s mind blowing how this entrepreneur with a vision has brought joy to millions.

If you’re feeling you need a little inspiration, you’re not alone. Women entrepreneur sometimes yearn for that extra focus to push harder on their projects. We are bombarded daily with family, life, strange situations and then the absolute desire to succeed. If you are looking to get fired up and find some inspiration, you might want to check out a few of Walt Disney’s lessons to success. Or at least a few of his amazing habits that resulted in astounding results.

Disneyland at night/ J.Jill

Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.

5 Inspiring Lessons Women Entrepreneurs can Take Away from Walt Disney

Don’t Get Comfortable! Keep building on your success. Walt Disney’s philosophy was to never stop dreaming. He used this mantra in everything aspect of his life. Situations were sometimes complicated by issues, but his mainstay and focus was to keep building on his success. He dropped anything that didn’t work out. When you stroll around Disneyland, that same principle is used even today. Attractions open and close as interest wanes from the masses, giving room for new ideas.

Channel Your Frustration. Mortimer mouse was born out of rage. Walt Disney was furious he was manipulated out of his previous work. Instead of giving up, he dug his heels in and made something better. He was determined to stay in the business and present his work, his way. Today Mortimer is better known as Mickey, but this mouse has millions of followers around the world.

Keep Asking. If you find yourself frustrated by repeatedly being turned down, you’re not alone. Walt Disney repeatedly asked for financial backing and the majority of banks turned him down. From his film Mary Poppins to Disneyland, Walt never let the idea of a negative response stop him. He needed money for upcoming projects he believed in. What would have happened if he stopped asking banks? Who knows, but he made a habit to keep asking and the rest is history.

Use Your Talent. Walt Disney wasn’t defined by a one-word occupation. He was a writer, illustrator, boss, director and even a theme park designer. He did it all and he learned everything he could about the field. Of course he hired people to help him, but he always offered up his talent when it came to the final say. It was his name on the front door (and every theme park thereafter.)

Don’t Listen to Negativity. In our world today, every entrepreneur has outside people offering up free advice on social media (as well as private emails.) Most of which will be negative. Don’t let those voices drag you down. It’s interesting that Walt Disney didn’t listen to the loudest voices who predicted he would fail. If he would have paid attention, he probably wouldn’t have been a success. It’s inspiring to see someone who believed in themselves enough to blaze their own path and see the ultimate success.

If you’re looking for inspiration in your daily life, consider reading up on Walt Disney’s struggles as he journeyed on the road of an entrepreneur. He had a vision and he kept pushing on his path until he found the ultimate success. Women entrepreneurs can find inspiration within Walt’s ways and they too, can find success with their projects, companies and services.

“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” — Walt Disney

Do you have the right tools to be an entrepreneur? by Renee Pedro of @crashpaddesigns

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by Renee Pedro | Featured Contributor 

Have you been thinking about starting your own business? How many times have you heard, “Just do it!”,” Go for it!” If you’re like me, those words aren’t inspirational they’re scary.

I’ve put lots of thought into why those are the wrong words to inspire women. A phrase like “just do it”, presupposes that you already know what to do and are sitting on your hands. For me, nothing was farther from the truth. When I started my home textile design company Crash Pad Designs 7 years ago, I wasn’t even a textile designer. Now I design, manufacture and sell my home textiles all over the world.

People say perspective is everything, In my life, it’s been 80% of everything. Action has been the other 20%. I have always known I could do whatever I wanted despite my less than prosperous background. My perspective is guided by the simple phrase, ” I’ll figure it out”. It’s my mantra. It’s confident and proactive. “I’ll figure it out” is also relatable and familiar. That’s why it can be especially inspirational for women. Because women figure it out every day.

Think about how many things you figure out in your daily life. If you’re a  mom who also works outside of your home, you’re getting everyone dressed and ready to leave the house on time every morning. You’re responsible for how everyone gets to where they need to be. You work at whatever your job is all day. Then you orchestrate getting everyone home, fed and in bed, so you can do it all again the tomorrow. Suppose tomorrow is a snow day or someone wakes up with a fever, or you get a flat? That’s life, and you figure it out.

The experience of your everyday life as a woman makes you a great candidate for an entrepreneur. Being able to think on your feet and to think outside the box makes entrepreneurship a perfect fit. Figuring things out is an inherent female quality, it’s a tool,  it’s in our DNA. Far too often we fail to celebrate and capitalize on this quality.

My business started with a list of things that I needed to figure out. Designing, licensing, manufacturing, distribution, web design, branding, marketing, sales and 900 other things. I had no idea what I was doing or how to do it.

One step at a time I conquered my list. If you ask questions someone will answer them. You’re reading this, so you know how many resources there are available to you. One email, or one phone call at a time I found people who could answer my questions and point me in the right direction. Remember there are no stupid questions and people are usually happy to help. Of course, it was still overwhelming and scary, but trusting I could figure it out, made it easier. I don’t want to sugar coat how difficult it is because sometimes it is very difficult. What’s important though, is how you think about it. That change of perspective can change your life.

Yes, that first step requires more than a step, it requires a leap, a leap of faith, and trust in yourself. So take a deep breath, get ready, set. Jump!  And you’ll figure it out. #Illfigureitout