New Rules
Last week I was working with one of my small business clients, a bright and dynamic woman who's passionate about positioning her artisan business for growth. We were talking about her financial picture and forecasting robust sales over the next three years. As I coached her, she expressed excitement and eagerness to see her dreams turn into reality, yet somewhere, just below the surface, I sensed subtle resistance on her part to fully imagine the scenario we were painting. I asked her about what she was feeling. After stopping for a moment to "feel into" my observation, she tentatively at first, then heartily agreed. Then she got very curious about her seemingly incongruous resistance to success. "Sarah", I asked, "What is your 'rule', about financial success? In other words, what belief do you carry (deep down) about money?" It didn't take long for her to respond. "Well," she reported, "if you're financially successful, it means you have to give up on your values and your integrity". Wow! By uncovering that one rule, Sarah hit pay dirt. She was now free to clearly see that one disempowering rule she had been carrying her entire life. Taking a look at the rules that drive your thinking is a very powerful activity to help you grow as a person, especially as a business owner. Another wise client of mine once said, "There's no way to separate who we are from what we do". You can have the most empowered business plans in the world and if your inner life and dialog is disempowered?forget it. It's an up hill battle. What are your 'under-the surface rules' that run your life and business? To explore, ask yourself: Where are you consistently stuck in your business? What are the things that always hang you up? What are the recurring thoughts or themes you could write the book about? I invite your willingness to explore. You have only strength and success to gain. Here are some examples of themes we all know too well: I can't quite breakthrough to financial success I default to fear and lack I always feel overwhelmed and exhausted and out of time Procrastination is my middle name I walk up to the edge of a challenge and then back away I avoid I would suggest that behind every common theme, you have a rule. For example, if you're like Sarah and you can't breakthrough to financial success, you might have a rule that says, "People that make money, sell out." Or, if you are constantly procrastinating, you might have a rule that says, "If I succeed, I'll wind up alone." (Maybe you experienced a parent who worked a lot, and was unhappy and you concluded that success = unhappiness). Explore where your rules came from by asking: When did the rule get created? What were the circumstances? Ask, if you were to change that rule, what would happen? Who would be upset? Who would get hurt or feel betrayed? Take heart, you created your rules for a good reason. We all create meaning about life from our experiences and then create rules to keep us safe, secure and sane. The problem comes when we neglect to inquire or challenge the current validity of our rules. You have the ability to move beyond your limited rules by becoming aware of them, disqualifying them, (if they don't serve you), and then by making new rules based on your current reality. I challenge you to give it a try. As for Sarah, she created a new rule that says she can be financially successful, maintain her values, fulfill her dream and express her passion in the world. What's YOUR new rule? It's your life?live it completely! Helaine is a professional coach and writer, who has been featured in numerous publications, including "O" The Oprah Magazine. She helps entrepreneurs and professional women accelerate their professional success, while achieving a more complete and fulfilling personal life. For a free consultation, contact her at 603-357-8546 to discuss how she can help you accelerate your own success. You may also visit her website, http://www.pathofpurpose.com, or email your questions to helaine@pathofpurpose.com
Related News
Sarkozy calls for global crisis summit - Financial Times
Sarkozy calls for global crisis summitFinancial Times, UK -Sep 29, 2008... but he has spoken several times of the need to encourage productive entrepreneurialism and to deter destructive “financial speculation”. ... |
Toward a new Mayfair - Ottawa Citizen
Toward a new MayfairOttawa Citizen, Canada -Sep 29, 2008The critics of the theatre's closing say the theatre just needs a bit of entrepreneurialism and maybe some expansion of its use to become financially viable ... |
A study on entrepreneurialism shows the field is not just for men. - UM Maneater
Self-confidence is key factor in business success - BCLocalNews
Maverick, not Marx - Daily Press
Maverick, not MarxDaily Press, VA -Oct 5, 2008... of dollars from successful business owners to redistribute wealth will reshape our society from one of entrepreneurialism to revolutionary socialism. ... |
AgentShield.com selected as Finalist for ITFlorida's Innovation ... - PR Web (press release)
Middle ground fertile for NDP - The Province
bbg allies with arab business angels network - Al-Bawaba
Where to offshore (and why not here?) - Computing
Where to offshore (and why not here?)Computing, UK -14 hours agoPerhaps the global downturn may actually encourage more regional talent and entrepreneurialism in countries like the UK, where the conventional wisdom has ... |
Regional Economic Summit Announced - MarketWatch
Regional Economic Summit AnnouncedMarketWatch -Oct 6, 2008Attendees will have the opportunity during the two-day summit to participate in general and break-out sessions dealing with entrepreneurialism, ... |
|
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Starting a Company on a Shoe-String Budget
A lot of people never start businesses because they believe they don't have enough money to do so. Unfortunately, these same people don't realize that many of the world's most successful companies were started on a shoe-string budget by an entrepreneur with limited resources. Below is a list of tips to help you save money when you're first starting a company: Manage your finances in MS Excel, not Quickbooks.
Manage your contacts in MS Outlook, not ACT.
Get free legal and accounting advice from law/business students or lawyers/accountants who are willing to do pro-bono (free) work.
Look for and join organizations that support youth entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Hire unpaid interns and make their job exciting.
Partner with somebody instead of paying them.
Use credit cards.
Get free, professional advice from SCORE, Teachers, and Professors.
Get investments from family and friends.
Find organizations who incubate startup companies or companies who might have office space that might be willing to let an aspiring entrepreneur use it. Perhaps, your school will let you use their copy machines and phone lines.
Swap services with a company instead of paying them.
Learn how to do graphic design and web design yourself. If you have these two skills, the startup costs of every business you have in the future will be dramatically reduced.
Six Degrees of Separation
Through just five or six intermediaries, you could be linked to millions of others. It is the notion behind what has been dubbed the small world effect.
Your Company Needs A Mission Statement; Make It Count
Does anyone remember that book "Built to Last" done y the Stanford class and professor? Well change that to "Built to Merge." My grandfather was personal friends with Bill Hewlett and David Packard and I bet they would not have wanted this merger with Compaq either. It is interesting that one night about 3 in the morning I was reading that book and decided to change or mission statement and focus on the things that meant the most to our team and our customers. I stayed up all night writing that mission statement to make sure it was in line with the books comments on what it takes to make and keep a company great. This was about 5 years ago when "Built to Last" was the talk of the business world and it was written up in many of the newspapers, and magazines I was reading at the time. WSJ, Financial Times, Investors Business Daily, The Economist, NY Times, etc. Even hit the best sellers list for a while, not bad for a business non-fiction book by a professor.
Prescription for the Future and Technological Revolutions
The world sure has changed in the last two-decades hasn't it? When I started out in business, there were no cell phones, fax machines, computers, etc. And I am not that old, having just retired at age 40. Indeed, in the better part of two-decades everything changed. And it is still changing and moving along. What will the next two-decades bring? You can probably figure it out with a little thought and watching the trends, new discoveries and think of what kinds of things the military, health care, entertainment and government industries will want. I recommend this book which foretold much of what we see now about a decade before we had it:
Franchise Business and Franchise Businesses
Franchise business is being part of a successfully proven business that has a name or trademark that is well known and profitable. Franchise businesses are strategically tried and marketable with options to expand by offering products and services that appeal to the consumer. Having to make the decision on which franchise business to buy can be challenging. Franchise business consultants can offer assistance to evaluate current franchise opportunities with valued insight. A franchise business consultant may also be able to offer assistance to the business owner who wants to make a current business franchisable.
The Secrets to Becoming a Successful Creative Entrepreneur: JJK Secrets #19-21
Hello Creative Entrepreneurs!
Achievements Outweigh Education and Experience
Q: When it comes to succeeding in business, which do you think is more important: education or experience?
-- Regina M.
How To Start a New Business
While it is tempting to just leap into a new business because of it's exciting possibilities, a few key planning points will vastly increase your chances of success. These steps aren't difficult, but they're easy to skip. Many businesses ultimately depend on a slim profit margin, so planning can really help the process. Too many restaurant patrons, for instance, assume that running a restaurant seems fun because of the many restaurants they have visited, but restaurants have an especially high failure rate.
The Risks of Entrepreneurship
The "spark" for many entrepreneurs is seeing an opportunity that doesn't yet exist. Ted Turner, for example, launched CNN because he perceived that people wanted more television news than they were being offered. It took a lot of patience on Turner's part to realize the vision, but he had read the market in a way that few "experts" did at the time.
Top 10 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make Before They Even Start
So you want to start a business. You have an idea. Lets say you want to be a carpenter. You print some brochures, some business cards, and take out an ad in the Yellow Pages. You pay $600 for a website and a domain name that tells everyone about your amazing credentials and experience. You distribute your fliers at a local grocery store. And then you wait. And wait. And wait?
If It Was Easy Everybody Would Do It
Q: I started my business about a year ago and everything is going fine. We're growing and making a profit, but the stress of running the business is really starting to get to me. I spend more time worrying than working. Sometimes the pressure is almost more than I can take. I'm starting to think that I'm not cut out to run my own business. Do you have any advice that might help me decide what to do?
-- Steven S.
Franchises - Emotional Fulfillment - Control Your Destiny
Does A Franchise Meet Your Needs?
Empathy - Not Business Plans - Key to Your Home Based Business Success - Do You Have Empathy?
EMPATHY is a Natural Talent, you were born with it and you will never loose it. It can be a blessing or a curse in a home based business. If you develop it, it can make you a Millionaire. Mary Kay, of Mary Kay cosmetics, did just that. If you have it, it is your most important key to a successful home based business. Business plans, cash flow projections, marketing analysis, etc. are skills that are needed in a home based business, but they can be learned from a workshops, courses or books. Your Natural Talent is what gives you the competitive edge.
Methods of Generating New Ideas for Entrepreneurs
Summary: Even with a wide variety of sources available, coming up with an idea as the basis for a new venture can still be a difficult problem. The entrepreneur can use several methods to help generate and test new ideas including focus groups, brainstorming and problem inventory analysis.
Entrepreneurship: Insight and Closer Look At The Entrepreneur
Life as an entrepreneur is the American Dream. To be able to be your
own boss, own your own business, never report to anyone else, work
from home, make unlimited earnings and income potential, etc. Owning
your own business most definitely has its perks. But on the other hand,
there are the downsides. However, being an entrepreneur myself I view
these only as challenges. The will to work hard, fanatically, solitary
isolation, being slammed of your ideas from other people, the
uncertainty of making the business grow to fruitation are all quite scary
considerations. But it's best to know that it is out there, that it is the
negative side. To be willing to gamble your money, other peoples
money, to invest a massive amount of time and energy into your
business is something that should be considered.
My Nemisis
Living in the twilight zone has its advantages. In the early days of starting my business, I found the limitations of living in a rural area to be restrictive. However, later I realized that those limitations were not an obstacle that could stop me; they were only a challenge that would strengthen me. Since my business would be smaller, I would have the advantage of fewer employees and less strife in the processes of doing business.
How To Get More Clients and Customers; Dont Sell Be of Service
Whether you are just starting your business or focusing on growing it, I'm sure you are like most small business owners you are looking for ways to get more clients and customers. There is a lot of information out there on selling, persuasion tactics, and gimmicks to get people to buy. I am suggesting a radical shift in perspective when thinking about the question: How do you get more clients and customers?
Oil Change Guys History; Part IV
One trait of franchisors and something you will find in all their biographies both; official and unofficial is their competitiveness and refusal to give up. Now onto Part IV of our saga:
Getting Rich Isnt a Bad Idea
You've seen plenty of articles claiming to offer you the secret
to getting rich. Some ideas, however, are thin veneers
covering some scheme that often involves multi-level
marketing or a service with questionable intents.
Needs Versus Wants For Entrepreneurs
How often do the words "I need" come out of your mouth, as it relates to your business? When you run your own company, it's easy to think that the only way to succeed is to be moving forward with your expenses -- the newest technology, a broader circle of professionals providing you services, involvement in more and more costly marketing efforts, etc. And it's particularly difficult to resist the urge when you know you can generally take a tax DEDUCTION for any business expenses. But did you ever stop to think how many of those requests are actually needs, and how many are simply wants?
|
