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3 Reasons We Need to Establish Priorities by @SandraDawes

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by Sandra Dawes | Featured Contributor

3 Reasons We Need to Establish PrioritiesWe’ve all had moments where it feels like everything needs to be done right away. Personally, I’m over ASAP as a deadline. I believe that if we want to keep whatever sanity we have left, we need to establish priorities in all areas of our lives. Here are 3 reasons why:

  1. Priorities help us create boundariesWhen you have identified what’s important to you, it makes it easier to say yes to the right opportunities and no to others. When we aren’t sure what a priority is for us, it can be easy to get caught up in other people’s priorities. We find ourselves unable to say no to things that we don’t want to do because we aren’t clear on where we want to be focusing our time and energy. If you don’t want to feel like you’re constantly being pulled in every direction, you need to establish your priorities and share them with the people in your life!
  1. It helps us to manage our timeWhen we know what our priorities are, we know where to focus our time. We aren’t easily distracted by shiny objects, and we don’t wake up in the morning wondering what we should tackle today. Priorities help us focus on our goals, on what’s important to us. Too many of us are busy giving big time to small tasks. When we are clear on our priorities we give our time to things that matter. Consider the goose that laid the golden eggs. What completed tasks will bring you closer to achieving other things on your to-do list? Figuring this out can help you establish priorities that will help get you closer to accomplishing your goals.
  1. Priorities help us maintain momentumWhen we know what’s important to us, we give it constant attention. You know what I’m talking about. You’re working on a project and when you look at the time you wonder where the last 5 hours went. When we’re passionate about something we eat, sleep and drink it. Establishing priorities fuels our purpose. It gives us permission to focus on the things that matter to us. You can’t make something a priority without committing to it. Commitment means doing it even when we don’t feel like it. It gives us power to push through even the most difficult challenges.

Without priorities we can feel like we’re spinning our wheel s in mud. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and frustrated by everything there is to do when you have no idea where to start. Taking the time to sit with your tasks and prioritize them will save you a lifetime of future hassle and aggravation. Have you set your priorities for the next 30 days?

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Sandra Dawes, Founder, Life Coach, Embrace Your DestinySandra Dawes is a recovering control freak and excuse maker, as well as founder of Embrace Your Destiny, her life coaching practice. Her work involves teaching women how to stop making arguing for their limitations so that they can create the life that they want. Sandra’s inspiration to help others in this area comes from her own journey and experiences in dealing with the heartbreak of losing her father. She published her first book Embrace Your Destiny: 12 Steps to Living the Life You Deserve, a story that outlines her personal journey, in November 2013.

In her down time, Sandra loves to read, do yoga and spend time with her partner Satnam and their dog Lulu. For more information on what she does, visit www.embraceyourdestiny.ca.

5 Must-Read Books for Entrepreneurs by @SandraDawes

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by Sandra Dawes | Featured Contributor 

There-is-no-end-toIt’s been said that successful entrepreneurs are readers. It makes sense, of course. There isn’t enough time to make all the mistakes possible and learn from them. Reading provides us with an opportunity to learn from the experiences of others and tap into their wisdom as well. There are so many awesome books out there, I’m sure I could do a whole series on great books! Here’s my top 5, feel free to share yours in the comments!

  1. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
    Even though this book was originally published in 1937, the information contained in it is timeless. This is a book that you can read several times and get something different out of it each and every time! If you struggle with negative thinking and staying committed to your goals, this book will definitely help! Running a mastermind group based on this book in 2013 provided me with the tools to take the leap into full-time entrepreneurship.
  1. Outwitting the Devil by Napoleon Hill
    Another book by Napoleon Hill, this one talks about to work through the fears that hold us back from living the life we want. Written in 1938, it wasn’t published until 2012 due to its controversial nature. It’s a cleverly written book, with Mr. Hill actually interviewing the Devil. The insights shared about institutionalized fear provide great food for thought.
  1. The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwarz
    If you need some prompting to achieve those big goals, this is the book for you! Another timeless classic, this book is all about what happens when you stop letting your fears control you and you take massive decisive action towards your goals. This book is easy to read with a lot of great insights and advice. If you’re ready to take your life to another level, this book is a great start!
  1. The Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne Dyer
    Wayne Dyer’s books aren’t targeted towards entrepreneurs, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t a worthy read! This book talks about the importance of focusing on the things that are going to get you closer to where you want to be. To be successful in anything you do, you have to get your mind right, and this book provides you with some great tools to do just that.
  1. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
    I couldn’t leave this classic off the list! This book is another good one that helps you to get to a level of operating at maximum efficiency. The habits are logical; it’s just a matter of putting them into practice in our own lives. The great thing is that the book provides techniques to incorporate the habits into our routine. This is another book that deserves a revisit every once and awhile.

There are so many books that provide great business wisdom! Special mention goes to Arlene Dickinson’s book Persuasion and Michael Hyatt’s Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World. While it can be easy to think that there’s no time for reading, even 15 minutes a day can provide great insight. Thanks to technology, you don’t even have to read the book; you can take them on the road with you with audio books! If we’re not growing, we’re stagnant. Books are a great way to continue our personal growth and aid in the growth of our businesses.

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Sandra Dawes, Founder, Life Coach, Embrace Your DestinySandra Dawes is a recovering control freak and excuse maker, as well as founder of Embrace Your Destiny, her life coaching practice. Her work involves teaching women how to stop making arguing for their limitations so that they can create the life that they want. Sandra’s inspiration to help others in this area comes from her own journey and experiences in dealing with the heartbreak of losing her father. She published her first book Embrace Your Destiny: 12 Steps to Living the Life You Deserve, a story that outlines her personal journey, in November 2013.

In her down time, Sandra loves to read, do yoga and spend time with her partner Satnam and their dog Lulu. For more information on what she does, visit www.embraceyourdestiny.ca.

3 Indicators You’re Focusing On The “Right Stuff” by @SandraDawes

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I’m constantly being reminded of how powerful our focus is. Whatever we focus on expands. Good, Jack Canfield SOI quotebad or otherwise, we get what we spend the most of our energy on. While it can be a scary notion, the good news is that the choice of where we focus on minds remains in our complete control. Here are 3 ways to know your focusing your energy in a productive way.

  1. Despite any challenges you’ve encountered, your still passionate about your goalPassion is the fire that fuels us in the pursuit of our goals. If our goals aren’t big enough, or meaningful enough, it’s easy to lose heart. When we focus on why we chose the goal, what achieving the goal is going to mean for us, those around us and maybe even the world at large, the bumps and bruises along the way are worth it. Challenges don’t discourage us from the things that are important to us. Instead, they show us what we’re made of, and empower us with the strength to make the once seemingly impossible, possible.
  1. People are starting to notice your effortsPersistence pays off. When you persist in the achievement of your goals, things start to happen and people begin to take notice. Maybe you’ve started things in the past and left them incomplete because you lacked the necessary passion. This time is different, and the people around you can see that. What’s exciting about this is that when you commit to your goals and remain focused no matter what, people around you want to contribute to your success. Big goals are impossible to achieve on your own. We all need support to make our goals a reality. With the support of others, you’re unstoppable!
  1. Even in moments of darkness, opportunities present themselves to restore your faithHave you ever had moments when you actually begin to question if you really know what you’re doing? Maybe you’ve even considered looking for a job, thinking that it might be time to think about a “Plan B”. All of a sudden, it happens – it seems like the heavens open and opportunities start showing up. They may not all pan out, but you know have a renewed faith and excitement about the possibilities when it comes to the goal you’re working towards. You see enough of a glimmer to believe in the existence of the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. I believe that these moments occur to encourage us not to give up. They are a reminder of the idea I talk about at the beginning of #2 – persistence and commitment pay off. Keep your eye on the prize and you will reap the rewards!

Remaining positive in the pursuit of our goals can be challenging, but it is necessary. Negative experiences are a part of life. We all experience failures and disappointments in our personal and business goals. How we choose to deal with them, and what we choose to focus on always remains in our control. What will you choose to focus on today?

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Sandra Dawes, Founder, Life Coach, Embrace Your DestinySandra Dawes is a recovering control freak and excuse maker, as well as founder of Embrace Your Destiny, her life coaching practice. Her work involves teaching women how to stop making arguing for their limitations so that they can create the life that they want. Sandra’s inspiration to help others in this area comes from her own journey and experiences in dealing with the heartbreak of losing her father. She published her first book Embrace Your Destiny: 12 Steps to Living the Life You Deserve, a story that outlines her personal journey, in November 2013.

In her down time, Sandra loves to read, do yoga and spend time with her partner Satnam and their dog Lulu. For more information on what she does, visit www.embraceyourdestiny.ca.

5 Signs You’re Making Progress on Your Goals by @SandraDawes

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Success-is-steady

by Sandra Dawes | Featured Contributor

Clients often come to me struggling to stay focused on their goals. They don’t feel like their making real progress on their goals and often feel like they’re spinning their wheels in mud. It’s easy to beat ourselves up about things – we are our own worst critic at times. You might not be exactly where you want to be. That doesn’t mean that you aren’t making progress, or that the goal isn’t possible. Here are 5 signs you are making progress towards your goals:

  1. You’re taking daily action towards specific targetsThis is really the only way you’re going to make any progress on your goals. If you have goals, but you’re not actually doing anything to make them happen, what are you waiting for? You can visualize and affirm all you want, but you actually have to get out there and do things if your goal is going to become a reality.
  1. You’re meeting the right people and connecting with the right resourcesWhen you make the commitment to your goals, the universe conspires with you to make them a reality. I know this to be a fact. When you stop talking about what you want to do and actually start doing it, the right resources and connections will be made to take you to the next phase. The key with this is to keep an open mind and stay focused on the end goal rather than worrying about how it will all come together.
  1. You’ve encountered obstacles, and overcome themWhen you can remain committed to your goal regardless of the challenges, you’re well on your way! Persistence pays off. When you want something bad enough, nothing can discourage you or make you believe that it isn’t possible. You’ve got the mental tenacity to make it to the finish line. This is one of the most important ingredients to anyone’s success!
  1. You’re constantly adjusting the planThis one ties in with #2 and #3. When you have an open mind and the right people and resources are finding their way to you, you have more information that allows you to fine tune the plan. When you encounter obstacles in your plan, instead of giving up, you look for alternate paths to make your goal happen. When you’re monitoring your progress on a regular basis, adjustments happen naturally.
  1. You’re even more excited about the goal than when you startedAs the light at the end of the tunnel begins to shine brighter, you’re bound to get even more excited about your goal. It’s moving from a simple idea to an actual reality! I don’t know about you, but it really doesn’t get any better than that! You know that the blood, sweat and tears were all worth it, and you’re not afraid if you have to give a little bit more to make it all happen. Ride that momentum to the finish line!

Any goal worth achieving takes time to unfold into reality. Little steps, daily action and a focused mindset are just a few of the tools that are going to bring you that much closer to realizing your dreams. Celebrate your accomplishments, keep an open mind, stay focused on the goal and watch the magic happen!

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Sandra Dawes, Founder, Life Coach, Embrace Your DestinySandra Dawes is a recovering control freak and excuse maker, as well as founder of Embrace Your Destiny, her life coaching practice. Her work involves teaching women how to stop making arguing for their limitations so that they can create the life that they want. Sandra’s inspiration to help others in this area comes from her own journey and experiences in dealing with the heartbreak of losing her father. She published her first book Embrace Your Destiny: 12 Steps to Living the Life You Deserve, a story that outlines her personal journey, in November 2013.

In her down time, Sandra loves to read, do yoga and spend time with her partner Satnam and their dog Lulu. For more information on what she does, visit www.embraceyourdestiny.ca.

5 Things I Wish I Knew In My Teens by @SandraDawes

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Find-out-what-you-likeby Sandra Dawes | Featured Contributor

I’m working on putting together a job fair in the fall and one of my goals is to help high school students explore their career options beyond the traditional professions. Since this idea has been kicking around in my head, I’ve been thinking about what I wished I’d known a few years ago (ahem), when I was in high school 🙂

  1. Entrepreneurship is an option
    Maybe times have changed, but I don’t remember much conversation about entrepreneurship as an option when I was in high school. It’s possible that I was just talking to the wrong people. Career day never had someone who owned their own business. I know that the Richard Branson’s and Bill Gates’ of the world aren’t the norm, but wouldn’t it be great to light the fire of entrepreneurship at an early age?
  2. A degree doesn’t guarantee a job, never mind a high paying one
    While I was in high school, I had a standing summer job at my mom’s warehouse. I started there making $8 an hour, working 40 hours a week. Not bad for a 15 year old! By the time I left there I was making about $16 an hour. Imagine my horror and dismay when my first job after graduation paid me $10 an hour! Sure, I wasn’t lifting heavy boxes and wearing steel toed boots, but it was still a letdown. Even my parents couldn’t believe that my education didn’t command higher pay.
  3. You don’t have to figure it all out now
    I don’t know about you, but what I wanted to be when I grew up isn’t what I want to be now! Before becoming an entrepreneur, I averaged three years at any job. How can you possibly know what you want to do when there’s no way you’re aware of all the options, especially at the age of 17 or 18? I used to roll my eyes at people who needed to take a year off to “find themselves”, but now I totally get it!
  1. Follow your passion and the money will come
    I used to think that there was no way that you could do something you love and get paid well for it. My father was a truck mechanic and loved his job. I believed that he was the exception to the rule. When you so many people working jobs that brings them no joy, you begin to believe that’s just the way things are. When you love what you do, you’ll spend the hours needed to master your craft, whatever it is. It’s not easy to commit to something that you’re not passionate about.
  2. The concept of “work smarter not harder”
    There was a time when I was working a full time job and a part time job. I remember being on a flight to Las Vegas for work and chatting with the couple I was sitting next to. I was talking about my lack of time for fun when the wife told me that I had to learn how to work smarter, not harder. It was the first time I had heard that, and I thought she was crazy. I totally get it now and no longer believe I have to exchange my time for money, as an employee or a business owner. There are only so many hours in a day and I don’t know about you, but working 24/7 doesn’t sound appealing to me!

What advice would you give students graduating from high school? What words of wisdom would you share with your younger self if you could? I’d love to hear your thoughts! ♥

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Sandra Dawes, Founder, Life Coach, Embrace Your DestinySandra Dawes is a recovering control freak and excuse maker, as well as founder of Embrace Your Destiny, her life coaching practice. Her work involves teaching women how to stop making arguing for their limitations so that they can create the life that they want. Sandra’s inspiration to help others in this area comes from her own journey and experiences in dealing with the heartbreak of losing her father. She published her first book Embrace Your Destiny: 12 Steps to Living the Life You Deserve, a story that outlines her personal journey, in November 2013.

In her down time, Sandra loves to read, do yoga and spend time with her partner Satnam and their dog Lulu. For more information on what she does, visit www.embraceyourdestiny.ca.

5 Ways You’re Sabotaging Your Success by @SandraDawes

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by Sandra Dawes | Featured Contributor

Mediocrity-scares-me-ItsIf you’re like me, there have been times when you’ve struggled to stay on track in the pursuit of achieving your goals. These obstacles can be very frustrating and leave you feeling overwhelmed. If you allow them to, they can prevent you from achieving the very success that you’re working towards. Here are 5 ways I’ve identified that we sabotage our own success.

  1. You pick goals that aren’t meaningful
    When I say meaningful, I’m talking about goals that mean something to you. We can sometime fall into the trap of choosing to pursue goals that we think we should make happen or that others want us to achieve. If it’s not a goal that is important and meaningful to you, then staying committed to that goal through challenging times is just going to be more difficult, if not impossible. Make sure your goals excite you and have real meaning for you.
  1. You’re over-thinking your decisions
    I know that I’ve fallen into the trap of over-analyzing everything and accomplishing nothing. Fear of failure and fear of success can both be the cause of the lack of ability to make a clear decision. Most of the time, we know what the answer is, but we lack confidence in ourselves and faith that everything will unfold as it should. Remember that our failures don’t have to define us. The choice is yours. Mistakes are only failures when you don’t take the time to learn something from them.
  1. You’re afraid to ask for help
    The bigger the goal, the more help you’re going to need along the way. If you have control issues like I do, it can be a challenge to put your trust in others. It’s not just about asking for help, it’s about asking the “right people” for help. Your cousin’s son may know a thing or two about websites, but if you want it done professionally and in a timely manner, you may want to stay away from the “free” and “cheap” and pay for the help you need. Avoid spending your time trying to figure out things that are outside your expertise.
  1. You lack focus
    If you aren’t able to ask for help, you won’t be able to focus on the things that you do best. If you’re wearing the hats of the webmaster, virtual assistant, bookkeeper and IT professional and none of these are actually the business you’re in, what are you doing? Sure you might be saving money, but are you making any? Putting too much on our plate leaves us unsure of where to start. Think about which of your goals is the “golden egg”. What one goal’s achievement is going to make the others easier to make a reality? Once you figure that out, the rest becomes much easier.
  1. You’re still hopeful
    You may be wondering why being hopeful is on my list of ways we sabotage ourselves, but here’s the thing; hoping that our goals become a reality implies that there’s still some doubt in your mind as to whether or not your goal is actually possible. Don’t hope your goals become a reality, believe and know that they will. We have to be mindful of the words that we speak. I’ve heard Louise Hay say that every word we speak is an affirmation. We have to claim as ours the things that we want for ourselves. Don’t hope or wish that things will happen. Start with the belief that it is already yours. If you don’t believe that your goal can actually become a reality, why even bother?

We don’t consciously sabotage ourselves from achieving our goals. Once we understand the things that we do that make it harder for us to do what needs to be done, we can look out for them and equip ourselves with tools and strategies to avoid these blocks. Don’t beat yourself up if you’ve done any of the things I’ve listed above. I can identify them because I’ve done all of them at some point or another. When we know better we do better and that’s really what it’s all about; constant progress and continuous evolution.

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Sandra Dawes, Founder, Life Coach, Embrace Your DestinySandra Dawes is a recovering control freak and excuse maker, as well as founder of Embrace Your Destiny, her life coaching practice. Her work involves teaching women how to stop making arguing for their limitations so that they can create the life that they want. Sandra’s inspiration to help others in this area comes from her own journey and experiences in dealing with the heartbreak of losing her father. She published her first book Embrace Your Destiny: 12 Steps to Living the Life You Deserve, a story that outlines her personal journey, in November 2013.

In her down time, Sandra loves to read, do yoga and spend time with her partner Satnam and their dog Lulu. For more information on what she does, visit www.embraceyourdestiny.ca.

5 Keys to Making Your Goals a Reality by @SandraDawes

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by Sandra Dawes | Featured Contributor

Goal Setting – it’s something we hear so much about, especially at this time of year. I know that I do a lot around goal setting at this time of year because I believe that Walt Disney Dream Quoteit’s the best time to start thinking about what you want to accomplish next year, as you review your accomplishments for the current year. Here are my 5 keys to making your goals a reality.

  1. Gaining clarity on your goalsIf you don’t know where you’re going, how will you know if you’re ever getting close to arriving? We have to be able to really get specific about what it is we want to achieve. Instead of saying that you want to increase revenues or get more clients, start talking about how much of an increase you want and what kinds of clients you want to attract. When you’re clear on where you want to go, you gain more clarity on what it’s going to take to get you there.
  2. Silencing the “peanut gallery”The peanut gallery comes in many forms. Whether it’s well-meaning friends and family who quote discouraging statistics on the state of the economy or the media itself talking about failure rates of small business, we have to be able to allow these things to discourage us. We need to surround ourselves with positive people that support and encourage us in the pursuit of our goals. We also need to create the mindset within that reminds us when we hear the negative news that just because it’s true for some, doesn’t mean it’s true for me. This is why the third key is so important.
  3. Having faithI’ve written about the importance of having faith as an entrepreneur before, but it’s worth repeating.  When I talk about faith, I mean the ability to believe in yourself, your abilities and your dream. If you don’t believe it’s possible, then anything you do towards your goal is a waste of time. You must believe in yourself if you want others to believe in you. You also have to be willing to accept that everything happens for a reason, even if it doesn’t happen the way that we’d like it to. Being able to surrender control of the things we have no power over is a vital lesson that will reduce heartache and stress along the way.
  4. Creating a planI’m sure we’ve all heard it said that a goal without a plan is just a dream. While the goal may not be reached exactly according to plan, you do need a guide, a map if you will, that will be your reference point as you pursue your goals. What benchmarks will let you know that you are getting close to achieving your goals? What will the indicators that you’re heading off track be? It can be a challenge not to become so attached to the plan that we lose sight of the goal. When experiencing obstacles, focus on the what and not the how of achieving your goals.
  5. The willingness and ability to put the plan into actionThis is the part where fear usually pops up. Putting the plan into action can be scary because we open ourselves up to the possibility of failure. We need to remind ourselves that we aren’t going to get any closer to reaching our goals by doing nothing. Even if you have the first four keys covered, you’re not going to achieve any kind of success if you aren’t willing to actually put the plan into action and see what unfolds. If putting the plan into action scares you, then remind yourself of why this goal is important to you in the first place. What will achieving the goal mean for your business, for you personally and who else will benefit are the things to keep in mind and use as motivation when you feel like fear is holding you back.

These 5 keys have been vital to achieving all that I have in the past year since leaving full-time employment to join the ranks of entrepreneur. There have been lots of re-calibrations of the plan and many times where my faith was tested. Thanks to the amazing support system I have and the strategies and lessons I’ve learned from experts along the way, I have been able to not only achieve my own personal and professional goals, but also helped my clients do the same. That desire to help others achieve their goals and live the life they want is what keeps me motivated and driven no matter what’s going on, what’s motivating you?

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Sandra Dawes, Founder, Life Coach, Embrace Your DestinySandra Dawes is a recovering control freak and excuse maker, as well as founder of Embrace Your Destiny, her life coaching practice. Her work involves teaching women how to stop making arguing for their limitations so that they can create the life that they want. Sandra’s inspiration to help others in this area comes from her own journey and experiences in dealing with the heartbreak of losing her father. She published her first book Embrace Your Destiny: 12 Steps to Living the Life You Deserve, a story that outlines her personal journey, in November 2013.

In her down time, Sandra loves to read, do yoga and spend time with her partner Satnam and their dog Lulu. For more information on what she does, visit www.embraceyourdestiny.ca.

5 Traits for Entrepreneurial Survival by @SandraDawes

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by Sandra Dawes  | Featured Contributor

It’s been a year since I left my full-time job in order to pursue my passion as an entrepreneur.  The journey so far has been quite the 2029060ride!  There have been up and downs, but I have no regrets about the decision I made.  There’s nothing that has been more rewarding than the work I have accomplished in the past 12 months, including publishing my first book, becoming a paid speaker and workshop facilitator!  I’m excited to see what else is in store for me 🙂

Here are 5 traits that I have found helpful as I persevere through the challenges and obstacles that come with entrepreneurship.  These have allowed me to push through the difficult “stuff” so that I can celebrate my successes (big and small) on the other side.

  1. Creativity
    This is a must!  We have to be creative in how we market ourselves.  Whether it’s social media, or your e-zine, you have to be able to grab your potential client’s attention in a way that leaves them thinking “I need to work with HER!”  Sure there may be other people who offer the same types of services or products that you do, but they’re not you.  Put your personal stamp on everything that you do. 
  1. Focus
    I know I’ve suffered from “shiny object syndrome” and it’s something that has prevented me from doing the things I needed to do in order to achieve specific goals.  Whether it was television, Facebook or signing up for my 100th webinar telling me things I already know, I’ve been easily distracted in the past.  The only reason I was able to complete the first draft of my book in 6 weeks last summer, was because I gave as close to 100% of my energy to it as I could, without needing to wear adult diapers and be fed through an I.V.  I’ve learned that multitasking isn’t all it’s cracked up to be sometimes.  Concentrated effort and energy works wonders! 
  1. Self-Confidence
    This was a big one for me!  When I first started my business on a part-time basis, the idea of going to networking events didn’t appeal to me whatsoever.  When I tried to do my first workshop and struggled to get people to register, I realized the importance of stepping away from the computer and making a personal connection.  When I first started networking, the idea of doing my 30 second introduction made me nauseous.  The more I did it, the more confident I became.  The more confident I became, the more clients I attracted!  You have to be confident if you want people to feel confident in giving you their business. 
  1. Persistence
    Right after I registered my business I went to a full day workshop with a friend, led by Bob Proctor.  He gave each participant a copy of the chapter on Persistence from Napoleon Hill’s book Think and Grow Rich.  He challenged us to find a partner and read the chapter to one another every day for the next 30 days.  My friend and I did it.  That was almost 5 years ago.  In this past year I have reminded myself of some of the triumphs achieved in that chapter, by people who were told that couldn’t do it, or encountered circumstances that would have justified their quitting.  Their persistence paid off and those stories have helped to keep me motivated and inspired to do the same. 
  1. Commitment
    This falls in line with persistence.  It’s hard to stick to personal or professional goals if we aren’t truly committed to them.  How badly do we really want to succeed?  What are we willing to sacrifice in order to make our dreams a reality?  When we want something bad enough, we’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen.  I’m not talking about breaking the law here.  It’s more about keeping an open mind, being willing and able to take giant leaps outside your comfort zone, and being okay with being a little very uncomfortable at times.

By no means have I mastered any of the traits I’ve listed above.  I continue to be a work in progress.  What I do know is that my first year as an entrepreneur has been one hell of a ride!  I’ve learned a lot, met some really cool people and I continue to be amazed at the opportunities that are being presented to me to help me live my dream and teach others to do the same.

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Sandra Dawes, Founder, Life Coach, Embrace Your DestinySandra Dawes is a recovering control freak and excuse maker, as well as founder of Embrace Your Destiny, her life coaching practice. Her work involves teaching women how to stop making arguing for their limitations so that they can create the life that they want. Sandra’s inspiration to help others in this area comes from her own journey and experiences in dealing with the heartbreak of losing her father. She published her first book Embrace Your Destiny: 12 Steps to Living the Life You Deserve, a story that outlines her personal journey, in November 2013.

In her down time, Sandra loves to read, do yoga and spend time with her partner Satnam and their dog Lulu. For more information on what she does, visit www.embraceyourdestiny.ca.