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Inspiration Can Come from Unexpected Sources
I’ve got two boys. They’ve been anxiously awaiting the DVD release of Transformers so we picked up a copy over the weekend. The first time they put it on I was suprised to find myself interested, it didn’t quite seem like my type of movie. But I had to sit down and watch it the second time they did.
Talk about finding inspiration in unexpected places… at one point in the movie, after the main two characters have been chased by robots and attacked by a mini decepticon (I may have to check with the boys to be sure I’m referring to the right robot 
) the good robot who’s assigned to protect the boy transforms back into a car and opens the door, showing that the robot wants them to get in the car. At that point the young man says to the young lady, who hesitates to move, “50 years from now when you’re looking back at your life, don’t you want to be able to say you had the guts to get in the car?”
That’s a powerful thought, isn’t it? 50 years from now when you are looking back at your life, what do YOU want to be able to say you had the guts to do?
I want to be able to say I had the guts to give life everything I’ve got — in my family and in my business. So I’m going to continue to push myself and to take one step at a time towards my goals. And I’m going to continue to believe that it’s okay to dream big.
Admittedly, my mindset has been very focused this week on growing personally and applying that to my business, and that could be why messages of courage seem to be coming at me from every direction. I found the movie very inspiring!
So, Moms, take a few minutes, sit down and watch “Transformers” (or whatever movie your children enjoy) and just enjoy it. You might be surprised at what inspires, motivates, or encourages you.
How One of the Most Basic Principles of Physics Can Transform Your Business
By Helen Graves, Reprinted from Helen’s Upbeat Action Marketing Tools
OK, it’s time for a little Tough Love here, people.
I keep hearing and seeing evidence from my clients and colleagues (and even myself, on occasion) that we’re playing small in the entrepreneurial game of business.
We want (or at least we say we do) to be successful, to grow our businesses, to serve lots of people and make lots of money. And yet we hold back when it comes to stepping forward into the actions that will actually make that happen.
I think you know what I mean, but let me give you a couple of examples just so we’re crystal clear.
“I can’t afford to hire a professional [business coach, web designer, copywriter, fill in your favorite specialist here]. I have to do it myself.” “I can’t raise my fees. No one would pay that much for what I do.” “I can’t take on an assistant. They’re too expensive.”
This is a Catch-22 way of thinking.
At the risk of repeating myself -yet again- let me say that your business will only grow as fast and as far as you do. The thoughts, beliefs and behaviors that got you to where you are today are NOT the same ones that will carry you on to greater success.
There is one common denominator running through every success story you ever see, read or hear about. It’s not hard work (though that can play a part), it’s not a big bank roll (though that would be nice), it’s not even good connections (though that never hurts).
The single most important element that will make -or break- your chances for success is changing your habits of thinking.
Change your thinking, change your results.
Yes, it’s really that simple.
And I offer you one word as the cornerstone on which to change your thinking.
That word is LEVERAGE.
This simple principle from the field of physics is one that will have the greatest impact on your income:hard work ratio. Because success isn’t just measured in amounts of money. It’s really more about how much freedom you have to enjoy the fruits of your income. And you can’t do much of that when you’re slaving away in the salt mine you call your business.
So what do I mean by leverage? Here are 3 extremely impactful ways to employ the concept of leverage so you can dramatically increase your output/income without increasing your efforts.
1. Leverage your skills by outsourcing whatever you can
Hiring a professional marketer, copywriter, graphic designer, business coach, or assistant is one of the best returns you can get for your money. It’s an investment, not an expense.
Here’s an example: You can hire a VA (virtual assistant) for about $25-40 per hour to do administrative, technical or marketing tasks (or just about anything you hate spending time on). So let’s say you’re making a modest $50 per hour. You give your VA the task of creating and uploading a new Services page on your website. It takes her/him 1.5 hours to complete the task (since it’s within her area of expertise) for a cost of $45 to you. With that same 1.5 hours you can now serve a client or two and earn $75 income. So even with the outsourcing, you still brought in $35 that you wouldn’t have if you’d been stuck doing the web maintenance. (And realistically, it probably would have taken you more than 1.5 hours to do what your VA did, right?)
2. Leverage your time by transforming your one-on-one services into group programs
I was just talking with a client about this yesterday. She wanted to get away from only doing 1-on-1 work, but felt with her particular service she needed more personal interaction than she could have with a large group. She was lamenting that this meant she could only do private training for individuals. I asked if there might be a happy medium -training classes of 3 or 4- so she still had the personal contact, but was not duplicating her efforts. She immediately saw the value of that for herself, as well as for her clients since they have opportunities for learning from each other in a group that aren’t available in one-on-one training.
3. Leverage your growth by finding a personal mentor, coach or teacher
As I mentioned earlier, your business will grow as fast and as far as you do. Stagnant thinking brings stagnant results. There’s no need to re-invent the wheel in your business just to prove you can (or even worse, just because you’re afraid to ask for help.)
Whatever business you’re in, someone out there is already doing it successfully. Or at least they have skills/information that will be useful to you. Take classes, read books, ask questions. Most people, particularly service-based entrepreneurs like us, like to help others. So find them, and learn from them.
I’ll leave you with one last thought - if you want real success, you’re going to need to start working smarter, not harder. I know you can do it; I’ve got faith in your creativity. So stop thinking small and get out there and win one for the Gipper. (Somebody stop her before she “clichés” again!)
Until next time, here’s to your success…
Helen Graves is an expert at showing independent entrepreneurs how to get more clients with less stress. Tune into her free audio course on how to “Simplify Your Marketing in 6 Easy Steps” at www.helengraves.com
Comments, questions and your esteemed opinions may be sent to helen@helengraves.com
Through her business, Seeds for Success, Helen Graves loves showing solo entrepreneurs how to speak from the heart and turn their marketing into a series of simple conversations so they can grow their business simply and easily.
Ever wake up to “one of those days”?
I’ll admit it. It’s taking serious effort to refocus my thoughts this morning. Started with waking up a little late, two sick kids, a husband rushing out the door to work, and a billing system upgrade gone on the fritz. Not the best recipe for a positive, peaceful day.
But today will be a wonderful day. I have so many things to be thankful for and in the grand scheme of things, these are only small bumps on the road and they won’t last long.
The best I can do is to deal gracefully with everything that comes my way and focus on the positive.
So, this morning I challenge you, no matter what kind of day you’re having, list 10 things you are thankful for right now. Then do it again. Keep listing until it makes you smile. And then focus on those things. Turn your day around. It’s up to you.
A thought on Value…
This quote was shared on the Powerful Business yahoo group this morning and made me stop and think:
“If you really do put a small value upon yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise your price.” -Anonymous
How true that is. As women in business, we often struggle with self-esteem issues and it reflects in the way we price out products and services. I challenge you to take some time out and consider what you are worth.
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
-Marianne Williamson