Woman in Leadership - Essential Knowledge For Business Success™

Inspirational Video: Commitment Before Clarity - BraveHeart Women

 

Courtesy of BraveHeart Women

When it comes to important decisions, do you require clarity before making a commitment?

In today's all-new show, Ellie and her guests discuss the concept and definition of clarity and how it affects our ability to make commitments in our lives.

Why are many afraid of committing to things like our purpose or even getting started on a new path in life?

Moreover, what kind of clarity are we actually looking for? Is it a mental decision instead of listening to our intuition for guidance?

Tune in to see how letting go of this one thing can help you achieve all of your goals in life.

To Your Success,

Stacie Walker

Check out my profile on Braveheart Women

 

What do you think about today's inspirational video clip of the day from Braveheart Women? 

After viewing this video, please share your feedback below in the comments section. 

 

 

View Our Current Playlist of BraveHeart Women Videos Featured in the Woman in Leadership Blog

Personal Development: Is Your Brain Wired to Grow A Highly Successful Business? - John Assaraf

Courtesy of PraxisNow.com 

 

Every business owner who has been around will tell you that to grow and run a successful business is much harder than they originally thought.

The reason is simple.

There are thousands of new things to learn and do and each level of growth demands a new way of thinking and acting.

Growing and running a business can feel like a never-ending marathon, and unfortunately, over 80% of business owners succumb to the stress and pressure, closing their businesses within several years. For some, the pressure is so great that it undermines their health, their confidence to succeed, and even their faith in themselves.

Psychologists used to believe that some people are just better suited to working hard and being successful.  Although there is some truth to this, we all have the neural capacity to excel—in business, in love, and in life.

Here’s the big question. Can anyone acquire the skill and ability to learn, grow, shift, and adapt the stress of work without getting discouraged, burned out, or losing  hope and faith in their desire to grow and run a highly profitable business?

The answer is YES!

The latest brain research is now showing us that the average person has no idea how to optimize their thinking and behaviors in ways that generate peak performance.  More importantly, few people know the secrets for minimizing stress and transforming conflicts into solutions.  These tools are not fully integrated into our day-to-day lives.  Poor thinking and high stress will undermine our health, hope, business desires and skills.

When we are constantly bombarded by stress – physical, emotional, or cognitive – our motor cortex (the part of our brain that turns our ideas into actions) is compromised. We can’t think clearly, disruptive emotions intrude and sabotage our relationships with others, and the “genius” part of our brain slows down. The executive functions of the frontal lobe are derailed, and our creativity (controlled by a specific neural circuit) is shut off. Stress increases –  which neurologically generates doubts, fears, anxiety, procrastination, and discouragement.

But there’s an easy solution to this downward spiral of tension.  Brain-scan studies have verified that a handful of practices can activate the frontal lobes of your brain in ways that reduce stress, anxiety, and irritability.  These simple strategies will help you make significant strides in managing your stress levels and working through the heavy workload needed to effectively grow your business.

 

Continue Reading:Is Your Brain Wired to Grow A Highly Successful Business? - John Assaraf

John Assaraf is a spiritual entrepreneur and teacher with an insatiable passion for brain research, quantum physics and helping others. As a result of his passion to live an extraordinary life, he has dedicated his life to studying and applying what he has learned and then passing on the lessons to others.

John loves teaching people how to Re-Train their brains to break through whatever level of success they have already achieved so they can live the most incredible life possible.

Learn more about John at: http://www.johnassaraf.com/ Learn how to re-train your brain at: http://www.praxisnow.com/ 

Follow John Assaraf on Twitter

Praxis Now of Facebook

Inspirational Video: Simply Meaningful - BraveHeart Women

Courtesy of BraveHeart Women

What is simply meaningful to you?

In this all-new BraveHeart TV episode, join the BraveHeart Women panel and me as we explore what is simply meaningful for us and how it allows us to fill up our self-worth tank.

Do you take the time to do something that is meaningful for you that touches you deeply? In doing so, do you then honor what someone else finds to be simply meaningful to them?

Tune in to explore what you find simply meaningful. Give yourself permission to keep finding what is most meaningful for you in order to have consistent, inspired flow of energy that fills you completely.

To Your Success,

Stacie Walker

Check out my profile on Braveheart Women

 

What do you think about today's inspirational video clip of the day from Braveheart Women?

After viewing this video, please share your feedback below in the comments section.

 

 

View Our Current Playlist of BraveHeart Women Videos Featured in the Woman in Leadership Blog

Woman in Leadership Book Review: Forbes Best Business Mistakes by Bob Sellers

Courtesy of Amazon.com

Based on the experiences of some of today's most successful men and women, Forbes Best Business Mistakes contains practical lessons that can help you learn from their personal and professional missteps. Author Bob Sellers sat down for exclusive and revealing interviews with each and every person profiled. He shares their stories to provide valuable insights into how to turn a bad business situation into a success.

Those profiled represent what Sellers describes as a "Hall of Fame" based upon accomplishments and reputations. They include such luminaries as Wall Street guru Peter Lynch, larger-than-life media personalities Jim Cramer and Suze Orman, legendary CEO Jack Welch, PIMCO's Bill Gross, Home Depot founderArthur Blank, and other renowned businessand financial leaders. Through their inspiring stories, you'll learn how:

• Mistakes can change a career path

• Mistakes can summon creativity

• Mistakes can create opportunities

• Mistakes can force you to up your game

As Malcolm Forbes put it, "Failure is success if we learn from it." Forbes Best Business Mistakes shares the missteps of others so you can learn from them, be inspired by them, and succeed where you may not have seen opportunity before.

 

Bob Sellers is a veteran television journalist and former financial advisor. He spent years as an anchor on CNBC and Fox News Channel, and wrote business columns for Success and Gear magazines. Sellers has also contributed commentaries to Marketplace Radio. He anchors evening newscasts at the NBC affiliate in Nashville.

Forbes is the leading business magazine in the United States, with an audience of more than 5 million readers. Since 1917, Forbes's mission has been to provide access to information and insights that ensure its readers' success.

View Our Archive of Previous Book Reviews

 

Don't Have A Kindle? Get Your Kindle Here

 

Not Using an Email Autoresponder Service is a Top Reason Why Businesses Fail Online

Image Credit

 

Written by Stacie Walker

 

Prosperous online business owners know that their list of prospects and customers is an asset that has a very real, measurable dollar value.

It is essential to be aware that building your own list will protect your business and open many doors to produce true wealth.

You do this by creating professional lead capture pages to attract highly qualified prospects and guiding your prospects through your carefully designed marketing system.

Additionally, it is essential to design your own professional lead capture pages. If you have not already done so, it is highly recommended for you to read the article, How to Create a Lead Capture Page to Skyrocket Your Income, as soon as possible.

It is suggested for you to have an effective marketing system in place before anyone joins your list through your lead capture page. If you currently do not have an effective follow up system, then it is likely your prospects will forget about you. 

Assuming you know how to correctly design your own professional lead capture page, this article will cover how to implement an email autoresponder service in harmony with all of your lead capture pages.

Just in case you are not familiar with an email autoresponder, it is a sequence of email messages sent to people who request some sort of information from you. You do not have to be a technical person to experience the benefits of using this simple piece of software for your online marketing needs.

Have you ever wondered how prominent business owners have the time to travel regularly, spend quality time with their friends and family on a daily basis, and are producing a six to seven figure a year income by working less than 20 hours per week?

When you are new to operating your business online, this type of lifestyle seems almost impossible. Matter of fact, it sounds too good to be true. Yet, there are record numbers of affluent business owners with this type of lifestyle.

I am sure you are thinking, “I want to do that, too! But how?”

Here is the secret...

Once you have learned how to successfully create an effective marketing system, you will have “the” valuable skill that will benefit you for the rest of your life as a business owner.

You will be able to operate your business online via automation and do whatever you want with your precious hours in a day.

It is shocking that 95% of people who operate their businesses online do not automate the majority of their marketing strategies!

That percentage comes down to one simple marketing tool that places a huge gap between people who struggle online and people who, almost effortlessly, make money online.

This online marketing tool, an email autoresponder, can drastically change your online marketing efforts for the price of less than $20 per month.

An Important Fact to Keep in Mind While Creating Your Marketing System

What if the people who are interested in what you have to offer are not yet ready to purchase anything from you? 

Consumers usually buy out of impulse, so it is important for you not to focus on the sale. Focus on your online marketing strategy and marketing system. 

 Your online marketing strategy should consist of following up with your prospects by using an autoresponder service.

The main reason you create a marketing system is to keep in constant contact with your list of prospects and provide them with valuable information. Use an email autoresponder service to educate. This is a necessary step to building credibility and long-lasting business relationships on a foundation of trust.

Do NOT be the business owner that sends only sales pitches. 

A rule of thumb is that your content included in your marketing system should be at least 75% educational and 25% promotional.

This article is a great example of providing educational content. It has been written once and it will continue to produce traffic for as long as it is in circulation. I do not have to physically tell people about the content contained this article.

Having an email autoresponder is a fundamental online marketing tool that is critical to your success. You will have a better chance of converting your first-time site visitors into loyal customers.

If you are involved with network marketing, you can have multiple sources of income that pay you regardless of whether or not your leads join your primary network marketing company.

You can promote anything you want!

You will have complete control over your list of prospects. You can create your own empire of wealth by having your business needs centered on you. Basically, it comes down to building your own list of prospects to become a top producer online.

Recommended Email Autoresponder Service

AWeber is an email marketing service that includes an autoresponder to help you communicate more effectively with your target audience.

AWeber provides you with a variety of services that allow you to:

• Send an automatic series of messages to effortlessly build relationships.
• Broadcast newsletters, coupons, and special offers by email.
• Design and publish opt-in sign up forms to your website or blog.
• Notify your blog readers of newly published content.

For only a $1, you can sign up today for a risk-free thirty day trial. If you choose to continue the service, the monthly fee is only $19.

Get Started with AWeber for Only $1

If you are not quite ready, more information about using this autoresponder service can be reviewed in the AWeber Knowledge Base.

If you want additional instructions, then you can watch a brief video on how an autoresponder service will help manage your list of subscribers.

Instructional Video: An Autoresponder Service Will Manage Your List of Prospects and Customers

 

Featured Article: Nine Things Successful People Do Differently - Heidi Grant Halvorson

 

Courtesy of Harvard Business Review

 

Why have you been so successful in reaching some of your goals, but not others? If you aren't sure, you are far from alone in your confusion. It turns out that even brilliant, highly accomplished people are pretty lousy when it comes to understanding why they succeed or fail. The intuitive answer — that you are born predisposed to certain talents and lacking in others — is really just one small piece of the puzzle. In fact, decades of research on achievement suggests that successful people reach their goals not simply because of who they are, but more often because of what they do.

1. Get specific. When you set yourself a goal, try to be as specific as possible. "Lose 5 pounds" is a better goal than "lose some weight," because it gives you a clear idea of what success looks like. Knowing exactly what you want to achieve keeps you motivated until you get there. Also, think about the specific actions that need to be taken to reach your goal. Just promising you'll "eat less" or "sleep more" is too vague — be clear and precise. "I'll be in bed by 10pm on weeknights" leaves no room for doubt about what you need to do, and whether or not you've actually done it.

2. Seize the moment to act on your goals. Given how busy most of us are, and how many goals we are juggling at once, it's not surprising that we routinely miss opportunities to act on a goal because we simply fail to notice them. Did you really have no time to work out today? No chance at any point to return that phone call? Achieving your goal means grabbing hold of these opportunities before they slip through your fingers.

To seize the moment, decide when and where you will take each action you want to take, in advance. Again, be as specific as possible (e.g., "If it's Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, I'll work out for 30 minutes before work.") Studies show that this kind of planning will help your brain to detect and seize the opportunity when it arises, increasing your chances of success by roughly 300%.

3. Know exactly how far you have left to go. Achieving any goal also requires honest and regular monitoring of your progress — if not by others, then by you yourself. If you don't know how well you are doing, you can't adjust your behavior or your strategies accordingly. Check your progress frequently — weekly, or even daily, depending on the goal.

4. Be a realistic optimist. When you are setting a goal, by all means engage in lots of positive thinking about how likely you are to achieve it. Believing in your ability to succeed is enormously helpful for creating and sustaining your motivation. But whatever you do, don't underestimate how difficult it will be to reach your goal. Most goals worth achieving require time, planning, effort, and persistence. Studies show that thinking things will come to you easily and effortlessly leaves you ill-prepared for the journey ahead, and significantly increases the odds of failure. 

5. Focus on getting better, rather than being good. Believing you have the ability to reach your goals is important, but so is believing you can get the ability. Many of us believe that our intelligence, our personality, and our physical aptitudes are fixed — that no matter what we do, we won't improve. As a result, we focus on goals that are all about proving ourselves, rather than developing and acquiring new skills.

Fortunately, decades of research suggest that the belief in fixed ability is completely wrong — abilities of all kinds are profoundly malleable. Embracing the fact that you can change will allow you to make better choices, and reach your fullest potential. People whose goals are about getting better, rather than being good, take difficulty in stride, and appreciate the journey as much as the destination.

6. Have grit. Grit is a willingness to commit to long-term goals, and to persist in the face of difficulty. Studies show that gritty people obtain more education in their lifetime, and earn higher college GPAs. Grit predicts which cadets will stick out their first grueling year at West Point. In fact, grit even predicts which round contestants will make it to at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

The good news is, if you aren't particularly gritty now, there is something you can do about it. People who lack grit more often than not believe that they just don't have the innate abilities successful people have. If that describes your own thinking .... well, there's no way to put this nicely: you are wrong. As I mentioned earlier, effort, planning, persistence, and good strategies are what it really takes to succeed. Embracing this knowledge will not only help you see yourself and your goals more accurately, but also do wonders for your grit.

7. Build your willpower muscle. Your self-control "muscle" is just like the other muscles in your body — when it doesn't get much exercise, it becomes weaker over time. But when you give it regular workouts by putting it to good use, it will grow stronger and stronger, and better able to help you successfully reach your goals.

To build willpower, take on a challenge that requires you to do something you'd honestly rather not do. Give up high-fat snacks, do 100 sit-ups a day, stand up straight when you catch yourself slouching, try to learn a new skill. When you find yourself wanting to give in, give up, or just not bother — don't. Start with just one activity, and make a plan for how you will deal with troubles when they occur ("If I have a craving for a snack, I will eat one piece of fresh or three pieces of dried fruit.") It will be hard in the beginning, but it will get easier, and that's the whole point. As your strength grows, you can take on more challenges and step-up your self-control workout.

8. Don't tempt fate. No matter how strong your willpower muscle becomes, it's important to always respect the fact that it is limited, and if you overtax it you will temporarily run out of steam. Don't try to take on two challenging tasks at once, if you can help it (like quitting smoking and dieting at the same time). And don't put yourself in harm's way — many people are overly-confident in their ability to resist temptation, and as a result they put themselves in situations where temptations abound. Successful people know not to make reaching a goal harder than it already is.

9. Focus on what you will do, not what you won't do. Do you want to successfully lose weight, quit smoking, or put a lid on your bad temper? Then plan how you will replace bad habits with good ones, rather than focusing only on the bad habits themselves. Research on thought suppression (e.g., "Don't think about white bears!") has shown that trying to avoid a thought makes it even more active in your mind. The same holds true when it comes to behavior — by trying not to engage in a bad habit, our habits get strengthened rather than broken. 
If you want change your ways, ask yourself, What will I do instead? For example, if you are trying to gain control of your temper and stop flying off the handle, you might make a plan like "If I am starting to feel angry, then I will take three deep breaths to calm down." By using deep breathing as a replacement for giving in to your anger, your bad habit will get worn away over time until it disappears completely.

It is my hope that, after reading about the nine things successful people do differently, you have gained some insight into all the things you have been doing right all along. Even more important, I hope are able to identify the mistakes that have derailed you, and use that knowledge to your advantage from now on. Remember, you don't need to become a different person to become a more successful one. It's never what you are, but what you do.

 

Heidi Grant Halvorson, Ph.D. is a motivational psychologist and author of the HBR Single Nine Things Successful People Do Differently and the book Succeed: How We Can Reach Our Goals (Hudson Street Press, 2011). Her personal blog, The Science of Success, can be found at www.heidigranthalvorson.com. Dr. Halvorson is available for speaking and training. Follow her on Twitter @hghalvorson.

 

Financial Advice: What Do You Want to Do With Your Life? by Kim Kiyosaki

Image Credit

Courtesy of RichWoman

Did you see this Wall Street Journal Report by McKinsey and Company about Women in the Economy in 2011 here?

It states that the top four things holding women back from leadership success in the working-world today include:

1. Structural obstacles (lack of female role models, sponsors, internal networks, etc.);
2. Lifestyle issues (a need for a work/life balance);
3. Imbedded institutional mindsets ("You can't have woman do that job"); and
4. Individual mindsets ("A woman won't be satisfied with that job for long").
5. These results support an important point… that the way we think has a lot to do with our overall success.

And if any of these four things sound familiar, it's time to change your mindset.

What do you want to do with your life?

This is what Robert asked me on our first date. I told him I wanted to start my own business, and that's what I did.

Yes, it was difficult. I had to learn through experience and a lot of trial and error. And as I mentioned in my last blog entry, we had nothing and even lived in our car for a short period.

It was very scary and stressful. But I did not give up… and things worked out.

My dream became a reality because I had the courage to focus on my financial education, keep moving forward and not let the naysayers change my mindset for success.

With this in mind, what do YOU want to do with your life?

Do you want financial freedom?

Whether you are a Mom trying to balance a tight budget, a stressed-out executive or just someone who has "settled" for what you have, are your dreams on hold?

Well, stop making excuses. It's time to push yourself to the next level!

Life is a never-ending workshop, and when you stop learning, you stop living. Yes, you will make mistakes, but that's how you learn. The important thing is to take action.

Put yourself in a position where you have to do something beyond what you think you can do.

It's scary, and you will have to fight the negativity out there… not only from your own self-doubt, but from all the people who will tell you your dreams are impossible (especially family and friends who are jealous or don't want to see you get hurt).

But this is how you break out of a rut, build confidence and get the skills and financial education you need to make positive changes happen.

In the months ahead, I'll be sharing posts with you to help you take action, get inspired and live the life you want to live. It's Rising Time ladies!

Who knows? You just may surprise yourself at what you can accomplish if you put your mind to it!

Do you want to take action now and start your financial freedom? Check out the financial education information here and feel free to comment below.

 

Kim Kiyosaki entered the business world in a position with a top Honolulu advertising agency and by age 25 she was operating a Honolulu magazine that served the city's business community. It didn't take long for Kim's entrepreneurial spirit to surface and two years later she ventured into her first business: A clothing company with national distribution.

 In 1989 Kim began her real estate investing career with the purchase of a small 2-bedroom / 1 bath rental property in Portland, Oregon. Today Kim’s real estate investment company buys, sells and manages millions of dollars in property.

Announcements: First Annual Conference in 2012 for Women Entrepreneurs Building Success

I wanted to share a very important announcement to the Woman in Leadership Facebook Community.

Women Entrepreneurs Building Success is having their very first annual conference in May 2012.

The goal of the conference is to unite minority business owners, leaders and entrepreneurs to assist in company establishment and growth, exchange priceless knowledge via networking, provide novice business owners with essential inspiration, and increase the economic condition in our individual communities.

To Your Success,

Stacie Walker

Image Courtesy of W.E.B.S.

Our Story

Our organization, Women Entrepreneurs Building Success was established to further the knowledge, growth and success of micro and small business owners, specifically minority women. 

In 2012 we will hold our first annual conference which will serve to encourage, inspire and promote entrepreneurs of all types including start-up hopefuls to established business owners. 

The goal of the conference, much like our mission, is to bring together minority business owners, leaders and entrepreneurs to assist in the establishment and growth of their companies, share invaluable information through networking, inspire start-up business owners and better the economic standing of our community.  

We have been attempting to get the conference off the ground for a while and this project has been near and dear to my heart because I understand that many times minority women are overlooked in business due to lack of knowledge and feel that with the focus of our company we will provide great service to communities in need.

For our conference this year, we look forward to hundreds of attendees, several presenters, many contest, a charity raffle, up to 40 exhibitors and other exciting events!  Our speakers will be established professionals in many areas including start-up essentials, grant education, branding, computer technology, social media, business accounting, establishing charitable organizations, management and weblogging.

For additonal information on how you can contribute, visit: http://websconnect.org/

Email: courtnye@websconnect.org

Inspirational Video: Why You Need a Personal Brand - BraveHeart Women

Courtesy of BraveHeart Women

Do you feel it's a necessity to have a personal brand?

In this all-new BraveHeart Women TV episode, brand strategist and best-selling author Libby Gill talks with Ellie about the importance of having a personal brand.

What does it mean to have a personal brand? Whether you are an executive, entrepreneur, or stay at home mom, it's important to define your own reputation and image before the world does it for you.

Tune in to discover the three questions you need to ask yourself to help you establish your personal brand.

Watch and learn how a brand has a purpose and can constantly evolve just as you do.

 

To Your Success,

Stacie Walker

Check out my profile on Braveheart Women

 

What do you think about today's inspirational video clip of the day from Braveheart Women?

After viewing this video, please share your feedback below in the comments section.

 

 

View Our Current Playlist of BraveHeart Women Videos Featured in the Woman in Leadership Blog

Woman in Leadership Success Story of the Week: Eileen Hutson - Cooking With MadJon and Friends

Courtesy of the Cooking with MadJon Blog  

Hello to all you foodies out there in webland! I enjoy my friends and music, dancing, and watching my two grandchildren grow up.

Life is amazing!

One of the reasons I do what I do today is because of my kids. They get me started in all kinds of adventures and this has been truly the most rewarding one that I've been on and the hardest job I have truly ever had.

There is no better way to enjoy life then through food.  When you think about food or taste it brings back all kinds of memories from your past. 

I am the inventor and the producer a food line called Me Me's Pasta Gravy, MadJon's Salsa and Me Me's Cake Syrup.

I have won many awards for my cooking over the last 3 years. I owned a cafe for three years but now I am a private chef, cater, provide cooking lessons, have a cooking blog with my own recipes, working on a cookbook and a personal book, and host my own T.V. show.

Everything is homemade like momma used to make it. 

I plan on having lots of stories about the good times and the mishaps of cooking and life. 

You can learn a little more about me by watching Cooking with MadJon and Friends show online.

Until then...happy trails to you and yours. 

 

Let MadJon bring the best ideas right to your kitchen. 

Join Chef MadJon and Friends as they take you on a culinary journey that not only starts in her kitchen, but also in local restaurants and events all over the region.

Tune into Cooking with MadJon & Friends on ASTV Channel 95 in Trenton, North Carolina.

Air Time: 5:30 am, 2:00 pm and 5:30 pm
New Episodes on ASTV: Monday 5:30 pm

If you are not in her local area, visit Cooking with MadJon and Friends Online 

For more information, visit: http://aikenstandard.com/astv/madjon/ or connect on the Cooking With MadJon and Friends Facebook Fan Page

Follow Cooking with MadJon and Friends on Twitter

Email Eileen Hutson directly at: madjon51@aol.com.